Hamas says it will free 3 more hostages as planned, paving the way to resolve ceasefire dispute

This is what returning home looks like after 15 months of unrelenting war. There is little left to salvage here in what once was Gaza's densely populated Al Bore refugee camp. Israel's military onslaught leaving this small strip of land almost entirely uninhabitable. This was our house, our garden, Amel says. This was our whole life, all our memories. Her daughter clutches on to whatever toys they were able to recover from their destroyed home. Like all families here, they will now try to carry on with life, no matter what uncertainty lies ahead. In Gaza City, the streets have already begun to fill in the absence of air strikes and artillery. Little girls dressed in the traditional Palestinian hole, celebratory cakes being shared in the streets. For many, amid so much loss, the ceasefire is both *** moment of long awaited respite and *** moment of rare joy. Even though we are heading into *** difficult and uncertain phase, the thought of no longer losing the people you love, of being able to sleep one night without the fear of losing someone dear to you, is truly *** relief, this woman says. For over *** year now, Palestinians in Gaza have spent each night hoping to survive just one more day. Gaza is small, but it's survived against the world. The whole world was defeated, and we endured. To persevere is in itself *** victory. But even under *** ceasefire, the war has made survival at its most basic level *** persistent challenge for Palestinians in Gaza. In Rafah, an area once designated *** safe zone, the remains of decomposing bodies are *** reminder of the kind of brutality Gaza's people have survived. Buildings stand hollowed beside mountains of rubble, some returning to their now destroyed homes, but this time alone, their loved ones killed over the course of the war. We are defeated. We have no life left. We will live in the streets, Mohammed says. I came here hoping to see my house still standing, but I found it destroyed. With so much lost in Gaza, the road ahead will be long and difficult. But despite the incomprehensible suffering this small enclave has faced, there remains an unwavering sense of hope.

Hamas said Thursday it would release three more Israeli hostages as planned, paving the way toward resolving a major dispute over the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.Video above: Gaza residents process grief and loss after Israel-Hamas ceasefireHamas had threatened to delay the next release of captives, accusing Israel of failing to meet its obligations to allow in tents and shelters, among other alleged violations of the truce. Israel, with the support of U.S. President Donald Trump, had threatened to renew its offensive if hostages were not freed.There was no immediate comment from Israel on Hamas바카라 게임 웹사이트� announcement, but it should allow the ceasefire to continue for now, though the future of the truce remains in doubt.Hamas said its delegation held talks in Cairo with Egyptian officials and was in contact with Qatar바카라 게임 웹사이트�s prime minister about bringing into Gaza more shelters, medical supplies, fuel and heavy equipment for clearing rubble 바카라 게임 웹사이트� its key demand in recent days. It said in a statement that the mediators had pledged to 바카라 게임 웹사이트�remove all hurdles.바카라 게임 웹사이트�Shortly after the announcement, Hamas spokesman Abdul Latif al-Qanou confirmed to The Associated Press by phone that three hostages will be released on Saturday.Egypt바카라 게임 웹사이트�s state-run Qahera TV, which is close to the country바카라 게임 웹사이트�s security services, reported that Egypt and Qatar had succeeded in resolving the dispute. The two Arab countries have served as key mediators with Hamas and helped broker the ceasefire, which took effect in January, more than 15 months into the war.Egyptian media also aired footage showing trucks carrying temporary housing and bulldozers on the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing with Gaza. They reported that the trucks were heading to an Israeli inspection area before crossing into Gaza.Trump has introduced more uncertaintyThe truce faces a much bigger challenge in the coming weeks. The first phase is set to conclude at the beginning of March, and there have not yet been substantive negotiations over the second phase, in which Hamas would release dozens of remaining hostages in return for an end to the war.Trump's proposal to remove some 2 million Palestinians from Gaza and settle them in other countries has thrown the truce바카라 게임 웹사이트�s future into further doubt. The plan has been welcomed by Israel but vehemently rejected by Palestinians and Arab countries, which have refused to accept any influx of refugees. Human rights groups say it could amount to a war crime under international law.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu바카라 게임 웹사이트�s far-right allies are already calling for a resumption of the war after the first phase with the goal of implementing Trump바카라 게임 웹사이트�s plan and annihilating Hamas, which remains in control of the territory after surviving one of the deadliest and most destructive military campaigns in recent history.The war began on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mainly civilians, and abducting around 250 people. More than half have been released in deals with Hamas or other agreements, eight have been rescued and dozens of bodies have been recovered.The captives are among the only bargaining chips Hamas has left, and it may be difficult to get the group to commit to further releases if it believes the war will resume.Trump has given mixed signals about what he wants to see in Gaza.He took credit for brokering the ceasefire, which was reached days before he took office after more than a year of negotiations under the Biden administration. But he has also expressed misgivings about how the agreement is unfolding and says it바카라 게임 웹사이트�s up to Israel whether to resume the war or not, while pledging continued U.S. military support.Seventy-three hostages have not yet been released, around half of whom are believed to be dead. Nearly all the remaining hostages are men, including Israeli soldiers.The war has killed over 48,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza바카라 게임 웹사이트�s Health Ministry, which does not say how many were fighters. Israel says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence.Israel바카라 게임 웹사이트�s offensive has obliterated large parts of Gaza. At its height, the fighting had displaced 90% of the territory바카라 게임 웹사이트�s population of 2.3 million. Hundreds of thousands have returned to their homes since the ceasefire took hold, though many have found only mounds of rubble and buried human remains and unexploded ordnance.A 바카라 게임 웹사이트�new war바카라 게임 웹사이트� would likely be far worseIsraeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, echoing Trump, said Wednesday that 바카라 게임 웹사이트�all hell will break loose바카라 게임 웹사이트� if Hamas stops releasing hostages. He said a 바카라 게임 웹사이트�new Gaza war바카라 게임 웹사이트� wouldn바카라 게임 웹사이트�t end until Hamas was defeated, which would allow for Trump바카라 게임 웹사이트�s vision of mass displacement to be carried out.With far fewer hostages remaining in Gaza, Israel's military would have more freedom to act.It would also face far fewer constraints from the United States, its main military patron. The Biden administration, while providing crucial military and diplomatic support, had occasionally pressed Israel to allow in more aid and at one point suspended some weapons shipments. It had also said there should be no permanent displacement of Gaza's Palestinian population.Trump has lifted restrictions on arms transfers, and his administration is pressing ahead with the sale of $7 billion worth of weapons approved under President Joe Biden.Trump has said Gaza바카라 게임 웹사이트�s population should be resettled elsewhere in the region, with wealthy Arab countries paying for it. He has suggested that once the fighting ends, Israel would transfer control of Gaza to the United States, which would then redevelop it as the 바카라 게임 웹사이트�Riviera of the Middle East.바카라 게임 웹사이트�Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a key partner in Netanyahu바카라 게임 웹사이트�s fragile governing coalition, has called for a resumption of the war, the 바카라 게임 웹사이트�voluntary migration바카라 게임 웹사이트� of large numbers of Palestinians from Gaza and the reestablishment of Jewish settlements there.___Lidman reported from Jerusalem.

CAIRO —

Hamas said Thursday it would release three more Israeli hostages as planned, paving the way toward resolving a major dispute over the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

Video above: Gaza residents process grief and loss after Israel-Hamas ceasefire

Hamas had threatened to delay the next release of captives, accusing Israel of failing to meet its obligations to allow in tents and shelters, among other alleged violations of the truce. Israel, with the support of U.S. President Donald Trump, had threatened to renew its offensive if hostages were not freed.

There was no immediate comment from Israel on Hamas바카라 게임 웹사이트� announcement, but it should allow the ceasefire to continue for now, though the future of the truce remains in doubt.

Hamas said its delegation held talks in Cairo with Egyptian officials and was in contact with Qatar바카라 게임 웹사이트�s prime minister about bringing into Gaza more shelters, medical supplies, fuel and heavy equipment for clearing rubble 바카라 게임 웹사이트� its key demand in recent days. It said in a statement that the mediators had pledged to 바카라 게임 웹사이트�remove all hurdles.바카라 게임 웹사이트�

Shortly after the announcement, Hamas spokesman Abdul Latif al-Qanou confirmed to The Associated Press by phone that three hostages will be released on Saturday.

Egypt바카라 게임 웹사이트�s state-run Qahera TV, which is close to the country바카라 게임 웹사이트�s security services, reported that Egypt and Qatar had succeeded in resolving the dispute. The two Arab countries have served as key mediators with Hamas and helped broker the ceasefire, which took effect in January, more than 15 months into the war.

Egyptian media also aired footage showing trucks carrying temporary housing and bulldozers on the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing with Gaza. They reported that the trucks were heading to an Israeli inspection area before crossing into Gaza.

Trump has introduced more uncertainty

The truce faces a much bigger challenge in the coming weeks. The first phase is set to conclude at the beginning of March, and there have not yet been substantive negotiations over the second phase, in which Hamas would release dozens of remaining hostages in return for an end to the war.

Trump's proposal to remove some 2 million Palestinians from Gaza and settle them in other countries has thrown the truce바카라 게임 웹사이트�s future into further doubt. The plan has been welcomed by Israel but vehemently rejected by Palestinians and Arab countries, which have refused to accept any influx of refugees. Human rights groups say it could amount to a war crime under international law.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu바카라 게임 웹사이트�s far-right allies are already calling for a resumption of the war after the first phase with the goal of implementing Trump바카라 게임 웹사이트�s plan and annihilating Hamas, which remains in control of the territory after surviving one of the deadliest and most destructive military campaigns in recent history.

The war began on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mainly civilians, and abducting around 250 people. More than half have been released in deals with Hamas or other agreements, eight have been rescued and dozens of bodies have been recovered.

The captives are among the only bargaining chips Hamas has left, and it may be difficult to get the group to commit to further releases if it believes the war will resume.

Trump has given mixed signals about what he wants to see in Gaza.

He took credit for brokering the ceasefire, which was reached days before he took office after more than a year of negotiations under the Biden administration. But he has also expressed misgivings about how the agreement is unfolding and says it바카라 게임 웹사이트�s up to Israel whether to resume the war or not, while pledging continued U.S. military support.

Seventy-three hostages have not yet been released, around half of whom are believed to be dead. Nearly all the remaining hostages are men, including Israeli soldiers.

The war has killed over 48,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza바카라 게임 웹사이트�s Health Ministry, which does not say how many were fighters. Israel says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence.

Israel바카라 게임 웹사이트�s offensive has obliterated large parts of Gaza. At its height, the fighting had displaced 90% of the territory바카라 게임 웹사이트�s population of 2.3 million. Hundreds of thousands have returned to their homes since the ceasefire took hold, though many have found only mounds of rubble and buried human remains and unexploded ordnance.

A 바카라 게임 웹사이트�new war바카라 게임 웹사이트� would likely be far worse

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, echoing Trump, said Wednesday that 바카라 게임 웹사이트�all hell will break loose바카라 게임 웹사이트� if Hamas stops releasing hostages. He said a 바카라 게임 웹사이트�new Gaza war바카라 게임 웹사이트� wouldn바카라 게임 웹사이트�t end until Hamas was defeated, which would allow for Trump바카라 게임 웹사이트�s vision of mass displacement to be carried out.

With far fewer hostages remaining in Gaza, Israel's military would have more freedom to act.

It would also face far fewer constraints from the United States, its main military patron. The Biden administration, while providing crucial military and diplomatic support, had occasionally pressed Israel to allow in more aid and at one point suspended some weapons shipments. It had also said there should be no permanent displacement of Gaza's Palestinian population.

Trump has lifted restrictions on arms transfers, and his administration is pressing ahead with the sale of $7 billion worth of weapons approved under President Joe Biden.

Trump has said Gaza바카라 게임 웹사이트�s population should be resettled elsewhere in the region, with wealthy Arab countries paying for it. He has suggested that once the fighting ends, Israel would transfer control of Gaza to the United States, which would then redevelop it as the 바카라 게임 웹사이트�Riviera of the Middle East.바카라 게임 웹사이트�

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a key partner in Netanyahu바카라 게임 웹사이트�s fragile governing coalition, has called for a resumption of the war, the 바카라 게임 웹사이트�voluntary migration바카라 게임 웹사이트� of large numbers of Palestinians from Gaza and the reestablishment of Jewish settlements there.

___

Lidman reported from Jerusalem.

Hamas says it will free 3 more hostages as planned, paving the way to resolve ceasefire dispute

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Trump has introduced more uncertainty

A 바카라 게임 웹사이트�new war바카라 게임 웹사이트� would likely be far worse

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