Gaza truce facilitates the most seamless swap of Israeli captives for Palestinian detainees to date.

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KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip — A significant progression in the ongoing ceasefire in Gaza was observed over the weekend, marked by the smooth exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners. On Saturday, the important Rafah border crossing was reopened, just two days ahead of vital discussions regarding the more complex second phase of the ceasefire negotiations.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday. This meeting will provide an opportunity for Netanyahu to strengthen his relationship with Israel’s key ally and advocate for the next steps to take after a protracted period of conflict spanning 15 months.

The second phase of the ceasefire will address the release of the remaining hostages and aim for an indefinite extension of the truce, amid what has been the deadliest conflict recorded between Israel and Hamas. If an agreement is not achieved, hostilities could potentially resume as early as March.

Netanyahu’s office reported that he engaged with Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, on Saturday night, where they reached a consensus to initiate the second phase discussions during their meeting on Monday. Witkoff is also expected to communicate with other mediating parties, such as Qatar and Egypt, later in the week.

On Saturday, Hamas released three male hostages, while Israel reciprocated with the release of 183 Palestinian prisoners during this fourth exchange. Another similar exchange is anticipated for the following Saturday.

The hostages, including Argentinian-Israeli Yarden Bibas and French-Israeli Ofer Kalderon, were handed over to Red Cross officials in the southern city of Khan Younis, while American-Israeli hostage Keith Siegel, appearing frail, was surrendered in Gaza City. All three were captured during the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, which initiated the current conflict. To date, 18 hostages have been released since the ceasefire began on January 19.

In contrast to the chaotic exchanges witnessed on Thursday, Saturday’s handover was efficient and orderly, as militants lined up while the hostages walked onto a stage to greet their families. This organized display underscores Hamas’s aim to assert its control in Gaza, despite the loss of several military leaders during the conflict.

Meanwhile, a transport bus left Ofer Military Prison carrying over two dozen Palestinian prisoners, who were welcomed by jubilant crowds in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Many of the released prisoners appeared visibly frail after their incarceration.

The Israeli Prison Authority confirmed the release of all 183 prisoners designated for this round. Notably, among those released, 111 were arrested post-Hamas’s October 7 attack and had not been involved in the assault. They had been held without trial before their release to Gaza, while seven others serving life sentences were sent to Egypt.

Emotion filled the air as Siegel’s release resulted in relief among kibbutz members. “He’s definitely lost a lot of weight, but he’s walking, talking, and one of the first things he mentioned is that he’s still a vegan,” shared his niece, Tal Wax.

The release of Yarden Bibas, 35, drew further concern for his family, including his wife Shiri and their two young sons, who were abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz. Kfir, the youngest at nine months old during the attack, symbolizes the anguish felt in Israel regarding the ongoing hostage crisis.

Following his release, Bibas shared an emotional moment with his parents and sister, expressing feelings of joy and relief. “A quarter of our heart has returned to us,” the Bibas family remarked in a statement after his emotional reunion.

Ofer Kalderon, 54, also shared in the tender reunion with his family, who celebrated his return. His two children, previously captured alongside him, were released during an earlier ceasefire.

The sentiments experienced by the released Palestinians mirrored those of the hostages. Mohammad Kaskus, who had been sentenced to 25 years due to anti-Israeli actions, articulated a mix of emotions: “It’s indescribable, filled with both sadness and joy as we leave our brothers behind.”

Yaser Abu Hamad, originally imprisoned for his involvement with the Islamic Jihad militant group, learned that 20 of his family members had been killed during the conflict. In a heartbreaking gesture, he visited their graves.

Various Palestinian prisoners detailed their experiences, citing severe conditions, physical abuse, and ill-treatment during their imprisonment. The Israeli Prison Authority has yet to provide a response to these claims.

The ongoing ceasefire has persisted for two weeks, resulting in the entry of substantial aid supplies into Gaza and facilitating the return of numerous Palestinian families to their homes in the northern regions ravaged by conflict. Additionally, on Saturday, 50 ill Palestinian children left Gaza for medical treatment through the Rafah crossing into Egypt, marking the first opening of the enclave’s only exit since its capture nine months ago.

As part of the ceasefire’s first phase, a total of 33 Israeli hostages are to be freed in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Israel believes that eight of the hostages have died, while approximately 80 remain held in Gaza.

“We will not permit this agreement to collapse. We refuse to return to war or to condemn those remaining hostages to death,” asserted Naama Weinberg, cousin of a deceased hostage, during a weekend gathering in Tel Aviv that called attention to the ongoing struggle.

Israel has pledged to dismantle Hamas, while the militant faction insists that the remaining hostages will not be released unless hostilities cease and a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza occurs.

The initial stages of this conflict led to the deaths of approximately 1,200 individuals, primarily civilians. Since then, the toll on Palestinians has surpassed 47,000, with over half of the casualties being women and children, as reported by Gaza’s Health Ministry. The military claims to have eliminated over 17,000 Hamas fighters; however, it attributes civilian deaths to Hamas’s strategies of operating within residential areas.

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