Hostage Situation Escalates Amid Gaza Ceasefire
In a developing situation regarding hostages in Gaza, Israel has announced that eight of the 33 hostages listed for release by Hamas are already dead. This has raised tensions as hundreds of thousands of Gazans flee north on foot. Amid this backdrop, families of freed hostages have begun to share harrowing accounts of their time in captivity, revealing unspeakable hardships. Hamas has organized a display of strength while releasing four female Israeli soldiers as part of a ceasefire deal, which is met with mixed emotions in both Israel and Palestinian territories. Celebrations were noted in Gaza City, but also a sense of caution among those released from Israeli jails. Reports indicate that Israel is hopeful for further returns but fears that casualty numbers may rise as the situation evolves.
PBS NewsHour, BBC.com, Haaretz, The Jerusalem Post, The New York Times, ABC News, The Times of Israel, Ynetnews, Al Jazeera English, Reuters