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 JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel and Hamas took a significant first step on Monday toward implementing their fragile Gaza ceasefire, exchanging hostages and prisoners in a move that raised cautious optimism about the U.S.-brokered deal and its potential to end the two-year war that has devastated the Palestinian territory.

However, critical questions remain unresolved — including whether Hamas will disarm, who will govern Gaza, and the future of Palestinian statehood — underscoring the delicate nature of an agreement that, for now, merely halts the bloodiest conflict in the history of Israel and the Palestinians.


In Israel, the release of the final 20 living hostages brought relief and celebration, offering a measure of closure to a war many Israelis felt was forced upon them. Yet, with the surviving hostages freed, the public pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to advance the next stages of the deal may ease. Four deceased hostages were also returned on Monday, and 24 more are expected to be handed over in the initial phase of the truce, which also commits Israel to allowing a large influx of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

In Gaza, joy erupted as prisoners returned home from Israeli jails, renewing hopes that the violence might finally subside. Still, for many Palestinians, the suffering continues. The territory lies in ruins after relentless bombardment — its economy shattered, essential services barely functioning, and countless homes reduced to rubble. The daunting question of who will fund and oversee Gaza’s reconstruction remains unanswered, and rebuilding is expected to take years.