Hostage Release Delayed in Gaza
The expected release of a second group of hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel was delayed for hours Saturday as the militant group accused Israel of not complying with the deal's terms. The last-minute snag created a tense standoff on the second day of what was meant to be a four-day cease-fire.
Until Saturday afternoon, it still appeared everything was going according to plan. Aid trucks were entering Gaza, Hamas handed a list of more than a dozen hostages slated for release to mediators Qatar and Egypt, and Israel's Prison Service prepared a list of dozens of Palestinian prisoners for release.
But by nightfall, as the hostages should have emerged from Gaza, Hamas announced that it was delaying the release over what it said were Israeli truce violations. The group alleged the aid deliveries permitted by Israel fell short of what was promised, and that not enough of the aid was reaching northern Gaza — the focus of Israel's ground offensive and the main combat zone. Hamas also said not enough veteran prisoners were freed in the first swap on Friday.
Hamas Official Raises Concerns About Deal
"This is putting the deal in danger and we have spoken mediators about that," a senior Hamas official said in Beirut.
CBS News reached out to the Israeli Defense Forces and the Israeli prime minister's office for comment, but has not yet heard back.
Optimism Amidst Uncertainty
While uncertainty around the details of the exchange remained, there was some optimism, too, amid scenes of joyous families reuniting on both sides. On the first day of the four-day cease-fire, Hamas released 24 of the roughly 240 hostages taken during its Oct. 7 attack on Israel that triggered the war, and Israel freed 39 Palestinians from prison. Those freed in Gaza were 13 Israelis, 10 Thais and a Filipino.
Overall, Hamas is to release at least 50 Israeli hostages, and Israel 150 Palestinian prisoners, during the four-day truce — all woman and minors.
Israel has said the truce can be extended an extra day for every additional 10 hostages freed — something U.S. President Joe Biden said he hoped would occur.
Qatari Delegation Arrives in Israel to Ensure Smooth Continuation of Deal
A delegation from Qatar arrived in Israel on Saturday to coordinate with parties on the ground and ensure the smooth continuation of a deal, according to a diplomat briefed on the visit.
The diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stated that the purpose of the visit was to ensure that the deal continues to move smoothly. However, he was not authorized to discuss the details with the media.
The start of the pause brought relief to the 2.3 million Palestinians who have been suffering from relentless Israeli bombardment. The bombardment has resulted in the deaths of thousands of Palestinians, forced three-quarters of the population to flee their homes, and destroyed residential areas.
During the pause, rocket fire from Gaza militants into Israel ceased, bringing a temporary calm to the region.
In northern Gaza, where Israel's ground offensive has been concentrated, war-weary Palestinians returned to the streets. They walked over rubble between shattered buildings and, at times, even dug through it with their bare hands.
At the Indonesian hospital in Jabaliya, which was previously besieged by the Israeli military, bodies could be seen in the courtyard and outside the main gate.
Emad Abu Hajer, a resident of the Jabaliya refugee camp in the Gaza City area, took advantage of the pause to search through the remains of his home. His home was flattened in an Israeli attack last week.
During his search, Abu Hajer discovered the bodies of a cousin and nephew, bringing the death toll from the attack to 19. With his sister and two other relatives still missing, he resumed his digging on Saturday in the hopes of finding them and giving them a dignified burial.
"We want to find them and bury them in dignity," Abu Hajer said.
The United Nations delivers much-needed aid during Gaza cease-fire
The recent cease-fire in Gaza allowed the United Nations to increase its delivery of essential supplies to the region. This included food, water, and medicine, which reached the highest volume since aid convoys resumed on October 21. Additionally, the UN was able to deliver 129,000 liters (34,078 gallons) of fuel, as well as cooking gas, marking the first time these supplies have been provided since the war began.
Although the pause in fighting was only for four days, it provided a brief respite for the people of Gaza. In the southern city of Khan Younis, a long line of people with containers waited outside a filling station to access fuel. Hossam Fayad expressed his disappointment that the pause was not extended, stating, "I wish it could be extended until people's conditions improved."
One positive outcome of the cease-fire was the delivery of aid to northern Gaza for the first time in over a month. The Palestinian Red Crescent organized a convoy of 61 trucks carrying food, water, and medical supplies to the area. This was the largest aid convoy to reach the region thus far.
The U.N. and the Palestinian Red Crescent also facilitated the evacuation of 40 patients and their family members from a hospital in Gaza City to a hospital in Khan Younis. This was a crucial operation considering the intense fighting that has occurred in Gaza City.
However, the relief brought by the cease-fire has been overshadowed by certain limitations. Israelis are disappointed that not all hostages will be freed, while Palestinians are frustrated by the short duration of the pause in fighting.
On Saturday, at a tense West Bank checkpoint where Israel was supposed to release prisoners, at least two Palestinians were injured. Israeli security forces used tear gas and rubber bullets against Palestinians gathered at the Beitunia checkpoint. The circumstances surrounding the injuries remain unclear.
In Tel Aviv, Thousands Await News of Second Release
In Tel Aviv, several thousand people gathered in a central square known as "the square of the hostages" to await news of the second release.
"It's becoming harder, harder, and harder. It's heartbreaking," expressed Neri Gershon, a resident of Tel Aviv. Some families have criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government for not doing enough to bring the hostages back home.
The group of freed Israelis consisted of nine women and four children, all aged 9 and under. They were immediately taken to Israeli hospitals for observation and were reported to be in good condition.
Later on, 24 Palestinian women and 15 teenage boys who had been held in Israeli prisons in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem were released. The teenage boys had been imprisoned for minor offenses such as throwing stones, while the women included several who had been convicted of attempting to stab Israeli soldiers.
"Our release from prison brings both happiness and sorrow, as it came at the cost of the lives of martyrs and the innocence of children," stated Aseel Munir al-Titi, one of the released prisoners.
According to the Palestinian Prisoners' Club, an advocacy group, there are currently 7,200 Palestinians being held by Israel, with approximately 2,000 of them being arrested since the start of the war.
The war began when thousands of Hamas militants stormed into southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of around 1,200 people, mostly civilians. The militants also took numerous hostages, including infants, women, older adults, and soldiers.
"We will resume our attacks in Gaza as soon as the cease-fire ends," said the Israeli chief of staff, Herzi Halevi, to soldiers.
Israeli leaders have made it clear that they will not stop until Hamas, the ruling party in Gaza for the past 16 years, is completely defeated. Israeli officials argue that only military pressure can secure the release of the hostages. However, the government is facing pressure from the families of the hostages to prioritize their safe return.
According to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-controlled Gaza government, the Israeli offensive has resulted in the death of over 13,300 Palestinians. The majority of the casualties are women and minors, accounting for about two-thirds of the total. These figures do not include updated numbers from hospitals in the northern region, where communication has been disrupted.
