Hundreds of thousands of people gathered in Tel Aviv for a rally amidst the backdrop of anticipated hostage releases by Hamas. U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff addressed the crowd, stating that hostages “are coming home” and credited Donald Trump for facilitating a ceasefire and the return of hostages.
In Gaza, it was reported that approximately 500,000 residents had returned to the northern region, which has been significantly damaged following the withdrawal of Israeli troops. Egypt is set to host a summit on Monday with over 20 leaders, including Trump, to finalize agreements aimed at ending the conflict. French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer are confirmed to attend.
Trump plans to visit Israel before proceeding to the summit. The ceasefire and hostage release agreement allow Hamas until Monday noon to release 48 remaining hostages, out of which 20 are believed to be alive. Osama Hamdan, a senior Hamas official, stated that plans for a prisoner exchange would begin Monday morning, though he noted that ground militants had not yet communicated logistics to leadership.
Participants at the rally voiced strong emotions regarding the hostages. Some criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, expressing anger over his leadership during the conflict. In Gaza, following the military operations, Hamas is reportedly mobilizing fighters to assert control over territories recently vacated by Israeli forces.
As Palestinians continue to return home, many find their residences destroyed. The World Food Programme indicated a limited intake of humanitarian aid into Gaza, citing only two to three trucks arriving daily, despite a commitment to increase aid flow. Meanwhile, a report by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification indicated that around 500,000 individuals in Gaza are facing famine, a claim disputed by Israeli officials who attribute hunger to issues within aid agencies and Hamas. The ongoing conflict has resulted in significant casualties on both sides since the hostilities began.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c75q5qng0rgo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss