On Wednesday, Hamas declared its plans to release eight hostages on Thursday, including three Israelis—two women and an 80-year-old man—and five Thai nationals. This move is part of the current ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, which aims to end the prolonged conflict and facilitate the exchange of hostages and prisoners.
In return, Israel is set to free over 100 Palestinian prisoners, among them Zakaria Zubeidi, a former leader of the Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigade and co-founder of the Freedom Theater in Jenin refugee camp. Zubeidi gained notoriety for a 2021 prison escape and has been awaiting trial since 2019 on charges related to alleged involvement in shooting attacks targeting Israeli settlers.
The ceasefire has enabled hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to return to northern Gaza. However, many have found their homes destroyed after more than 15 months of intense fighting. The situation remains delicate, with both sides cautiously proceeding with the terms of the truce.
