Another twenty hostages are released: extension of the ceasefire creates new hope for peace

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These are heartbreaking scenes. Children run into their father’s arms. Families are reunited and cry for joy, others still fear for their loved ones. The 58 released women and children were held by Hamas for more than seven weeks. Now they have been exchanged for 177 Palestinian prisoners.

There are also moving images from Gaza. People return to their bombed homes and search for their belongings. Public markets have resumed as hundreds of trucks of aid were able to cross the Egyptian border. A battered people goes about their daily lives among the rubble.

The ceasefire brokered by the US, Qatar and Egypt lasted four days. Now it is being extended, mediators from Qatar report. Hamas and Israel have agreed to remain without fighting for two more days. Twenty hostages will be released in exchange for sixty Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons. Additional relief supplies and fuel are also being delivered to Gaza. Just a week ago, the prime minister was faced with a multi-day ceasefire – he feared that a ceasefire would strengthen Hamas militarily.

The world community calls for an end to the bloodshed

The signals create new hope. Will there be more ceasefires? Will the hostage drama be over soon? Are the ceasefires even a step toward peace? Ultimately, in addition to the 1,200 Israelis massacred on October 7, the war also claimed more than 14,800 lives (according to Hamas) in Gaza.

Israel and Hamas are under pressure. The international community is calling for an end to the massive bloodshed, especially Israel’s powerful partner, the US. And there is also resistance in our own country. There are still 163 hostages in the hands of Hamas. They should also be released. And apparently that only works during ceasefires.

In addition, the former opposition leader and now minister in the war cabinet, Benny Gantz (64), is threatening a government crisis. Reason: Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich (43) wants to transfer 900 million shekels (213 million francs) from the funds for the promotion of settlement development, education and culture for the war chest.

A ceasefire is hardly in sight, experts say

Hamas is increasingly losing support in the Gaza Strip and in the Arab world, which wants to continue doing business with the West and is therefore pushing for a ceasefire.

As obvious as the arguments for peace are, a lasting ceasefire is not in sight, says Justin Bassi, executive director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. “A ceasefire cannot be permanent because Hamas’ control of Gaza is the biggest obstacle to peace,” the Middle East expert wrote.

Neither Israel nor Hamas are interested in peace at this point, Bassi said. “Hamas will not return all the hostages, but will keep them as a bargaining chip to increase the pressure of the world community on Israel,” the expert suspects. “Once Israel resumes its military operation, Hamas will undoubtedly claim that it is the Israelis who are restarting the conflict without justification.”

“Both warring parties miscalculated”

Netanyahu’s determination speaks for Bassi’s doubts. After a conversation with US President Joe Biden (81) on Sunday, the Prime Minister indicated that he would negotiate an extension of the ceasefire. Thereafter, fighting would resume until Israel fully achieved its war objective of destroying Hamas.

It is Israel’s duty to guarantee the safety of its citizens after the October 7 massacre, says former ARD Israel correspondent and author Richard Chaim Schneider (66) in an interview with Blick. Therefore, the fighting will continue until Hamas is defeated. Because the terrorist organization would never surrender. “It is using the ceasefire to reposition itself militarily and gain time,” says the German Middle East expert.

Walter Posch (56) of the Vienna State Defense Academy sees it very differently. “A threatened ceasefire is a realistic scenario,” the Islamic scholar told Blick. “Military solutions have become very difficult for both sides. The war is too bloody and too expensive. You miscalculated.” According to the Viennese expert, Israel had set the bar too high and Hamas in turn expected a fire that would not happen.

Source: Blick