National/ International Desk
20 January
Journalist
Sandeep Dhand
A day before Donald Trump takes office as the 47th US President, a ceasefire has been implemented in the Gaza Strip, marking a hopeful step toward peace. The agreement, mediated by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt, ends 15 months of intense conflict between Israel and Hamas.
As part of the deal, Hamas released three women hostages who had been held for 470 days. The hostages—Romy Gonen (24), Emily Damari (28), and Doron Steinbrecher (31)—were handed over to the Israeli Defense Forces by the Red Cross and have returned safely to Israel. In exchange, Israel agreed to release 90 Palestinian prisoners, most of them women and children.
Palestinians, who endured heavy destruction during the conflict, have begun returning to their homes, and relief trucks carrying supplies from Egypt have entered Gaza. However, the ceasefire’s start was delayed by three hours, as Hamas initially failed to provide the names of the hostages, citing technical issues.
Tensions Persist Despite Agreement
During the delay, Israel conducted an airstrike in Khan Yunis, reportedly killing 26 people. Meanwhile, Israel announced it had recovered the body of Oron Shaul, a soldier killed in the 2014 war. His body, along with another soldier, Haider Goldin, had remained in Gaza for years despite protests by their families for their return.
The ceasefire offers a much-needed pause in the violence, but recent developments highlight the fragile nature of peace in the region.