A ceasefire deal has been agreed

[gloriagloria]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c3rwqpj70ert

I really hope this is the beginning of peace and prosperity for both sides.

I have started a thread on it now, it's concerning isn't it

And Israel need to stop holding people in an open air prison.

The office of the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said on Sunday it was imposing a blockade on Gaza because Hamas would not accept a plan which it claimed had been put forward by the US special envoy, Steve Witkoff, to extend phase one of the ceasefire and continue to release hostages, and postpone phase two, which envisaged an Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/02/israel-cuts-off-humanitarian-supplies-to-gaza-as-it-seeks-to-change-ceasefire-deal

Hamas says it’ll free the American - Israeli hostage + bodies of another 4 people with the same nationality
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/14/hamas-says-it-will-free-israeli-us-hostage-in-potential-breakthrough-in-ceasefire-talks

US accuses Hamas of making impractical demands

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cr7230vrkmko

It is believed that Hamas is still holding up to 24 living hostages in Gaza and the remains of 35 others.

As indirect talks continued on Friday, the group said in a statement it was ready to release the last living Israeli-American hostage it is known to be holding.

Edan Alexander, 21, was serving as an Israeli soldier close to Gaza when he was taken.

Under the terms of the original ceasefire agreement, it was expected that he would have been among the last hostages to be released.

The group also said it would hand over the remains of four other dual nationals captured during the 7 October 2023 attacks.

It did not give further details or make clear what it would demand in return.

Witkoff dismissed the offer, saying Hamas was trying to appear flexible in public while being impractical in private.

This point has nothing to do with the hostages. There is no equivalency or justification.

There is no justification for Hamas holding any hostages nor is there any justification for Israel treating the Palestinians as prisoners. Neither life is worth more than the other.

There is no equivalency in the two situations you have described.

Detainees no, they need either charging and then a trial or release.

Prisoners who have been tried and convicted are completely different though.

Hostages are innocent victims. All should be immediately released.

The general public in Gaza are held in an open air prison by Israel. Children, students, families who have done nothing wrong other than being in Gaza.

Oh dear.

You know that I meant prisoners who have been tried and convicted of crimes, eg terrorists, murderers etc. The ones who are being released in greater numbers for hostages!

I wasn't talking about ordinary citizens. I was referring to the ceasefire and the exchange of hostages for prisoners and detainees.

Totally agree with your comments on the exchange. I was referring to what is happening to the ordinary people living in Gaza

I see. We were talking about different things. Thanks for explaining.

What ceasefire? Almost daily strikes in Gaza are still continuing including targeting aid workers

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c20d4ylyx57o.amp

A team of charity workers has been killed in Israeli strikes in northern Gaza, the UK-registered Al Khair Foundation has told the BBC.
The charity said eight people - including its volunteers and independent journalists documenting their activities - were killed when their vehicles were targeted on Saturday in what Hamas described as a "blatant violation" of the ceasefire agreement with Israel.

Around a 150 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the ceasefire

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9vy3k4dpz0o

It's horrific! Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajiun!

Over a hundred killed in one night already

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9vy3k4dpz0o

The Israeli military says it is carrying out "extensive strikes" in the Gaza Strip, with the Hamas-run health ministry reporting that at least 220 Palestinians have been killed.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it was targeting what it called "terror targets" belonging to Hamas.

Mahmoud Abu Wafah, the deputy interior minister in Gaza and the highest-ranking Hamas security official in the territory, has reportedly been killed in a strike.

This is the largest wave of airstrikes in Gaza since the ceasefire began on 19 January. Talks to extend the Gaza ceasefire have failed to reach an agreement.

Many people were having their pre-dawn meal, due to it being the holy month of Ramadan, when explosions started in Gaza, witnesses say.

More than 20 Israeli war planes flew over, they said. The planes then began to hit targets in Gaza City, Rafah and Khan Younis.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz ordered the strikes on Tuesday morning, according to a statement from the PM's office.

"This follows Hamas's repeated refusal to release our hostages, as well as its rejection of all of the proposals it has received from US Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff and from the mediators," it said.

"Israel will, from now on, act against Hamas with increasing military strength," it added.

The plan for the strikes "was presented by the IDF over the weekend and approved by the political leadership", it said.

Israel's Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, warned Hamas to release all the hostages, stating "we will show no mercy on our enemies".

Trump has made repeated calls for Hamas to release all hostages. I did expect eventually a renewal of the conflict since they have refused that.

A senior hamas commander has been killed but also so many innocents, this is sad.