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For the first time in nine months, the Rafah Crossing has been reopened, after nine months. This marks a significant breakthrough in negotiations. The reopening is part of the ceasefire deal agreed upon by Israel and Hamas earlier this month, which also included a high-profile hostage exchange.

Three More Israelis Released in Hostage Exchange

Hamas released three more Israeli hostages who had been held captive in Gaza for 484 days. In response, Israel freed 183 Palestinian prisoners.

On Saturday morning, 54-year-old Ofer Kalderon and 35-year-old Yarden Bibas were handed over to the Red Cross in Khan Younis, located in southern Gaza. They were then transported to the Re'im military base for medical examinations and reunions with immediate family members.

A third hostage, 65-year-old Israeli-American Keith Siegel, was later handed over at the destroyed Port of Gaza. Siegel has since crossed into Israeli territory and joined the other two men at Re'im. They were then transferred to a hospital for medical care.

Fears for Missing Hostages

Concerns remain regarding the fate of Mr. Bibas's wife, Shiri, and their two young children, Ariel, 5, and Kfir, 2. The family was taken hostage during Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack, and Israeli authorities fear they may not have survived. It is unclear if Mr. Bibas has any information about their fate.

Mr. Siegel’s wife, Aviva, was also abducted during the attack but was freed during a previous ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in November 2023.

As in previous hostage releases, Hamas paraded the hostages in front of the media. During Thursday’s exchange, chaos erupted in Khan Younis as thousands of Palestinians surged forward, posing a threat to the Israeli hostages.

Banners displaying the faces of Hamas political leaders killed during the war were unfurled behind Mr. Kalderon and Mr. Bibas.

 However, on Saturday, the situation was more controlled and under heavy Israeli security.

Israel Releases 183 Palestinian Prisoners

Following the hostage release, Israel freed 183 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. A bus carrying 32 of them departed from Ofer Military Prison in the West Bank, arriving in Ramallah, where they were met with cheers from a large crowd.

According to Hamas’s prisoner media office, one freed prisoner was exiled to Egypt, while 150 were returned to the Gaza Strip. Palestinian authorities reported that 111 of those released had been arrested and detained without trial since October 7, 2023.

Among the released prisoners was Ali Al-Barghouti, who had been serving two life sentences. Several other detainees had been sentenced to long terms in Israeli prisons.

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Palestinian Children Evacuated for Medical Treatment

As the prisoner release was underway, a group of 50 sick and wounded Palestinian children began crossing into Egypt for medical treatment. This marked the first opening of the Rafah Crossing since Israeli forces seized it in May.

Egyptian television footage showed Palestinian Red Cross ambulances arriving at the crossing, where children were transferred onto Egyptian ambulances. Many of these children suffer from severe conditions such as cancer or heart disease, and Gaza’s decimated healthcare system is unable to provide the necessary treatment.

Mohammed Zaqout, the director of hospitals in Gaza’s Hamas-run Health Ministry, stated that more than 6,000 patients are awaiting international evacuation for treatment, while over 12,000 need urgent medical care.

“The small numbers set to be evacuated will not cover the need, and we hope the number will increase,” Zaqout emphasized.

Rafah Crossing Closure and Reopening

Israeli forces had shut down the Rafah Crossing in early May after capturing it during an offensive in the southern city. Egypt subsequently closed its side of the passage in protest. 

However, as part of the ceasefire deal, Israel agreed to reopen the crossing after Hamas released the last living female hostages in Gaza.

Mohammed Zaqout, the director of hospitals in Gaza's Hamas-run Health Ministry, said more than 6,000 patients were ready to be evacuated internationally. And 12,000 more patients still required treatment.

The reopening of the Rafah Crossing and the hostage-prisoner exchange represents a critical step in ongoing negotiations between Israel and Hamas.

While these developments offer somewhat of a reprieve, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza remains dire.