By Eric Vandenbroeck and co-workers

Gaza's next steps

Anguished families said they were “shocked and dismayed” after the bodies of only four out of 28 hostages were returned from Gaza yesterday. It’s unclear when other remains will be returned, and Israel has assessed that Hamas may not be able to find all of them.

This is not the first time Hamas has had its back to the wall and had to engage in a strategic reassessment, finding a way to navigate international pressure while preserving its commitment to using violence to undermine its Palestinian rivals and, ultimately, destroy Israel. Thirty-one years ago, Hamas found itself in a difficult position in the wake of the Oslo accords, which began the long “peace process” between Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization. Then, as now, Hamas faced the prospect of an Israeli withdrawal from Palestinian territories and a Palestinian governance structure that excluded the group and was committed to its disarmament. The decisions it made at the time offer a preview of how it is likely to operate in the weeks and months to come.

After Hamas successfully returned the 20 remaining living hostages in Gaza to Israel, families were tearfully reunited across the country. There were also emotional reunions in the West Bank and Gaza after Israel released 250 Palestinian prisoners and over 1,700 detainees.

The releases were celebrated at a summit on Gaza’s future attended by world leaders, where US President Donald Trump and ceasefire mediators signed an agreement to seek peace in the Middle East. But key points in their plan remain unresolved, leaving Palestinians in Gaza still struggling to survive a humanitarian crisis amid the ruins of their homes.

Bereaved Israeli families have expressed anger that the remains of only four out of 28 deceased hostages were handed over during the exchange  The ceasefire agreement, published by Israeli media, appears to have acknowledged that Hamas and other Palestinian factions may not be able to locate where all the remains are within the timeframe given  As Israel's freed hostages undergo medical checks, Israeli media are reporting news of their ordeals, including starvation and torture  In Gaza, many of the hundreds of Palestinians released after being held without charge by Israel during the war have been alleging torture and mistreatment; some, expecting to be reunited with their families, find they've been killed.

There's huge uncertainty over the next steps for Gaza, the day after a ceasefire deal saw 20 living Israeli hostages and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners emotionally reunited with their families - here's a recap of what happened. But bereaved Israeli families have expressed anger that the remains of only four out of 28 deceased hostages were handed over during the exchange.

The ceasefire agreement, published by Israeli media, appears to have acknowledged that Hamas and other Palestinian factions may not be able to locate where all the remains are within the timeframe given As Israel's freed hostages undergo medical checks, Israeli media are reporting news of their ordeals, including starvation and torture In Gaza, many of the hundreds of Palestinians released after being held without charge by Israel during the war, have been alleging torture and mistreatment; some expecting to be reunited with their families find they've been killed.

Israeli military says one hostage died from wounds and another was murdered in captivity.

An impressive collection of world leaders met in Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt, hours after Israeli hostages were released. The leaders of Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and the United States issued a communiqué expressing their shared “determination to dismantle extremism and radicalization in all its forms.” But that commitment will mean little if some meat is not quickly put on the bones of the skeletal 20-point plan. The key to undermining Hamas’s ability to regroup is to quickly put other security and governance structures in place to replace those run by Hamas.

There is also huge uncertainty over the next steps for Gaza, the day after a ceasefire deal saw 20 living Israeli hostages and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners emotionally reunited with their families - here's a recap of what happened  But bereaved Israeli families have expressed anger that the remains of only four out of 28 deceased hostages were handed over during the exchange  The ceasefire agreement, published by Israeli media, appears to have acknowledged that Hamas and other Palestinian factions may not be able to locate where all the remains are within the timeframe given  As Israel's freed hostages undergo medical checks, Israeli media are reporting news of their ordeals, including starvation and torture  In Gaza, many of the hundreds of Palestinians released after being held without charge by Israel during the war, have been alleging torture and mistreatment; some expecting to be reunited with their families find they've been killed  Donald Trump hailed a "tremendous day for the Middle East" as he and regional leaders signed a document to cement his Gaza ceasefire deal - he's just landed back in Washington DC.

In our earlier article today, we also expressed our conviction that, as it has in the past, Hamas will retrench and re-arm.

Anguished families said they were “shocked and dismayed” after the bodies of only four out of 28 hostages were returned from Gaza yesterday. It’s unclear when other remains will be returned, and Israel has assessed that Hamas may not be able to find all of them.

After Hamas successfully returned the 20 remaining living hostages in Gaza to Israel, families were tearfully reunited across the country. There were also emotional reunions in the West Bank and Gaza after Israel released 250 Palestinian prisoners and over 1,700 detainees.

The releases were celebrated at a summit on Gaza’s future attended by world leaders, where US President Donald Trump and ceasefire mediators signed an agreement to seek peace in the Middle East. But key points in their plan remain unresolved, leaving Palestinians in Gaza still struggling to survive a humanitarian crisis amid the ruins of their homes.

Israel says its military fired at suspects approaching its forces in Gaza IDF says the identification process for four deceased hostages returned by Hamas has been completed.

Trump is being commended for getting a renewed ceasefire deal over the finish line. Hamas deploys armed fighters and police across parts of Gaza. Iran says Trump’s call for peace with Tehran is at odds with US actions. Trump expressed hopes for the 'rebuilding of Gaza' and said he has not made up his mind on the two-state solution.

Trump expressed his vision to re-develop the territory into the "Riviera of the Middle East". The plan would call for the forced displacement of approximately 2 million Palestinians to neighboring lands. When asked how the territory will be acquired, Trump claimed the U.S. will "take it".

The above article is written at what is currently 5 AM in Washington, D.C.

 

 

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