Hamas recently secured a ceasefire with Israel, contingently releasing thirteen Israeli captives and eleven others as part of the agreement. The first day of the ceasefire, following long-stagnate negotiations, began at 4:30 AM on Thursday morning with a United Nations-brokered exchange.
The Palestinian group responsible for governing the Gaza Strip announced the release of those held in captivity on Wednesday. It was Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who ordered the release in exchange for the Israeli citizens that had been held hostage with many others amid ceasefire negotiations.
Under the part of the exchange between Hamas and Netanyahu, the two Israeli captives who remain in Gaza, Avra Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed, are to be released. The others are supposed to be returned to Israel by the authorities that negotiated the ceasefire.
Though statements from both sides indicate that the fight is over, the dynamics of the conflict may tell a different story. Tensions have been high between Israel and Hamas since 2014 when the two sides launched a 50-day war.
“It’s too early to tell how long the ceasefire will hold,” remarked foreign policy analyst Bruce Jentleson in an interview Wednesday. “Both sides have a lot to gain from a lasting peace, but the roots of the conflict still need to be addressed.”
The two countries have long disputed control of the Gaza Strip and a lasting ceasefire must go beyond a prison-exchange. It must provide a foundation for mutual understanding and common goals.
Though a long-term solution is still unknown, those exchanged from the ceasefire were joyous to be alive and free from captivity.
“I am so happy to go home. I was so worried,” 63-year-old Samer Khish was quoted to have said. “I want to thank the government and the people that have been helping me so much.”
In these moments of joy and exchange, the foundation for a lasting peace does not come easy. The ceasefire serves as a temporary respite, but only further negotiations can ensure permanent stability in the Israel-Gaza conflict.