For the first time in seven weeks the guns are silent. Hostages are released, as are Palestinian prisoners. There should also be more help for the population in the Gaza Strip.
With the ceasefire between Israel and the Islamist Hamas brokered by Qatar, the Gaza war entered a new phase on Friday. After seven weeks, the guns are largely silent again for the first time.
The ceasefire is intended to pave the way for the gradual release of hostages held by Hamas and Palestinian prisoners in Israel, as well as the entry of more humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. Important questions and answers:
Who are the hostages to be released?
During the ceasefire initially agreed for four days, 50 hostages are to be released from the Islamist Hamas. First of all, mothers, children and young people as well as older women should be released, it was said. If the ceasefire were to be extended – to a maximum of ten days – Hamas would have to release another ten hostages every day. The hostages are either Israelis or residents of Israel – but according to reports they could also include people with dual citizenship. An initial 13 women and children were to be released on Friday.
After their release, little will likely be known about the hostages and their fate. The military called on the public and media to be patient and sensitive. Psychologists assume that the children in particular could be severely traumatized after seven weeks of being held hostage. They also witnessed the worst violence on October 7, when terrorists from Hamas and other groups killed around 1,200 people in the Israeli border area. It is unclear how many of the 240 people kidnapped at the time are still alive and exactly where they are being held in the Gaza Strip.
Who are the Palestinian prisoners that Israel will release?
About three prisoners are expected to be released for every hostage released. Israel published a list of a maximum of 300 people who could be released. 123 of the 300 Palestinians listed there are young people under the age of 18. The youngest are therefore 14 years old. According to the list, 33 prisoners are girls and women. The prisoners are accused of, among other things, throwing firebombs, arson and knife attacks. On Friday, 39 female Palestinian prisoners, minors and teenagers were on their way to a central Israeli prison ahead of their scheduled release, according to media reports. There are 24 female prisoners, reported the Ynet news site.
Have there been any deals to free hostages in the past?
Yes. The prisoner exchange to free Israeli soldier Gilad Schalit, who was kidnapped in 2006 and was held captive by Hamas for several years, is still considered controversial. He was released in 2011 in exchange for more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners. The current head of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Jihia al-Sinwar, was also released.
Does Hamas benefit from the ceasefire?
This is considered certain. However, it is unclear how much advantage it can gain from this, especially since the Israeli military has control of the north. In any case, there are fears in Israel that Hamas could use the time to reposition itself and emerge stronger from the ceasefire. The terrorist organization will also still have many hostages in its control even after the break in fighting has ended, which it is likely to continue to use as bargaining chips.
Are Israeli soldiers still in the Gaza Strip?
Yes. The Israeli military had again intensified its attacks in the Gaza Strip shortly before the ceasefire came into force and is not withdrawing its troops. Thousands of Israeli soldiers are stationed in the north of the sealed-off coastal area.
Can Palestinians now move freely in the Gaza Strip?
No. Israel has effectively divided the Gaza Strip in two through its ground offensive in the north. On Friday, after the ceasefire began, soldiers were deployed to prevent displaced Palestinians from traveling from the south of the Gaza Strip to their former homes in the north to inspect them or check on relatives. According to Hamas sources, two people were killed by gunfire in the central area of the Gaza Strip and others were injured as they tried to cross to the north. Eyewitnesses also reported that the army used tear gas. An Israeli military spokesman said they were investigating the reports. In the southern part there was extensive freedom of movement.
What does the ceasefire mean for the civilian population in the Gaza Strip?
The suffering people in Gaza are completely worn out after around seven weeks of war, and aid workers speak of a dramatic humanitarian crisis. According to UN figures, more than 1.7 million people, or around three quarters of the population, are now internally displaced. There is a lack of pretty much everything: food, water and medicine are very scarce, as are the chances of medical treatment. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 22 of the 36 hospitals in the Gaza Strip have now ceased operations. According to the UN, there are now only around 1,400 of the 3,500 beds in hospitals – although there are more and more injured people.
As a result of the massive Israeli air strikes and the ground offensive in the northern part, according to the Hamas authorities, almost 15,000 people were killed and more than 36,000 people were injured. The numbers could not initially be independently verified, but are viewed by the UN and diplomats as generally credible.
How much additional help can the population now receive?
As part of the ceasefire agreement, a significant expansion of humanitarian aid was also agreed. On Friday, around 200 trucks carrying aid supplies were scheduled to arrive in the Gaza Strip, including tankers carrying fuel and gas. Fuel is particularly important, for example to run generators for hospitals and drinking water supplies. According to UN figures, before the war, an average of around 500 trucks brought deliveries to the Gaza Strip every day. Around 100 truckloads per day are needed to ensure basic humanitarian supplies. The UN Palestinian relief agency UNRWA wants to use the pause in fighting to distribute urgently needed relief supplies. Israel monitors aid deliveries very closely – out of fear that deliveries could also benefit the Islamist Hamas.
How great is the destruction in the Gaza Strip?
Enormous, that much is certain, as countless photos from the war zone show. At the same time, there is hardly any reliable data on the exact extent of the destruction. According to US researchers, between 56,000 and 74,000 buildings have been damaged since the war began. This emerges from an analysis by the Decentralized Damage Mapping Group (DDMG), in which a group of US scientists examined the attacks in the coastal area using satellite data. In the northern Gaza Strip, 40 to 50 percent of the buildings were damaged.
Could the ceasefire lead to an end to the war?
It doesn’t look like that at the moment. Israel has made it very clear that it sees the ceasefire as just that – a pause. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized that the war would continue “until we have achieved all of our goals.” This included the elimination of Hamas and the return of all hostages. In addition, there should no longer be a threat to Israel in Gaza. Hamas, in turn, has the ultimate goal of establishing an Islamic state throughout historic Palestine. Hamas wants to destroy the state of Israel. A Hamas spokesman has also threatened to repeat the October 7 massacres. The USA, but also Germany, have so far supported Israel’s rejection of a long-term ceasefire.
What is Israel’s long-term plan for Gaza?
That is still unclear. Prime Minister Netanyahu said that Israel would have to continue to play a role in securing the area even after a victory over Hamas. At the same time, the USA, probably Israel’s most important ally, is explicitly warning against a renewed occupation of the Gaza Strip. The US government wants the Palestinian Authority to be responsible again for the Gaza Strip in addition to the West Bank. The long-term hope is a two-state solution, i.e. a peaceful coexistence between Israel and a Palestinian state – which currently seems unrealistic.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
