This Monday morning, a first group of Israeli hostages was handed over to the Red Cross by the Hamas movement, marking the concrete start of the ceasefire agreement between the Palestinian movement and Israel. According to consistent international sources, seven hostages alive reportedly left the Gaza Strip towards a controlled crossing point, with a view to their transfer to Israel.
This exchange takes place in a climate of immense tension and expectation. The overall agreement provides for the release of 20 Israeli hostages still held in Gaza, in return for the release of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. The first movements observed this morning suggest that the implementation of the agreement has indeed begun.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) supervises the operation, guaranteeing the neutrality and security of the transfer. No official image has yet been released, but diplomatic sources mention prior medical checks before any handover to the Israeli authorities.
A fragile ceasefire
If the releases continue as planned, other groups of hostages are expected to follow in the coming hours or days. But one question remains: will this operation open the way to a real political process? Or is this just a break in a never-ending conflict?
This start of liberation comes while the ceasefire remains fragile. Israel has insisted that the military operation will resume if Hamas does not fully respect its commitments. For its part, the Palestinian movement demands the immediate entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, exhausted after months of siege.
