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Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favorite tales on this weekly e-newsletter.
A slim boy with darkish hair and spectacles dashed down an Israeli hospital hall in the direction of a person in a checked shirt, who scooped him right into a bear hug. After 49 days in captivity, together with his birthday, nine-year-old Ohad Munder-Zichri was lastly again in his father’s arms.
Alongside along with his mom Keren and grandmother Ruti, Ohad was certainly one of 13 Israelis freed by Palestinian militant group Hamas on Friday night. The tender reunion between father and son swept throughout Israeli social media in a second of respite for a nation gripped by its worst ever hostage disaster.
However that optimism is attenuated by anxiousness as some 200 Israelis stay in captivity — together with Ohad’s grandfather, 78-year-old Avraham.
Noam Alon, whose girlfriend Inbar Haiman was snatched after attending the Nova music pageant, stated he was joyful to see 85-year-old Yaffa Adar reunited along with her grandson.
“There should not a variety of moments we are able to smile, and to see her again along with her grandson is one thing particular,” he stated at a press convention on Saturday. “And I need to have the identical with Inbar, I would like each household to have the identical.”
He vowed to maintain up the strain for his or her launch: “We predict to see everybody freed, we would like our authorities to do all the things to proceed the deal.”
Below a four-day truce brokered by Qatar, Egypt and the US, Hamas has agreed to progressively launch 50 ladies and kids from captivity in Gaza, whereas Israel will free 150 Palestinians — largely ladies, kids and youngsters — from its prisons.
On Friday, Hamas launched 13 Israelis, 10 Thai nationals and one individual from the Philippines. In alternate, Israel freed 39 jailed Palestinians, prompting scenes of jubilation in elements of the occupied West Financial institution.
The pause in combating, triggered by Hamas’ unprecedented assault in southern Israel final month that killed 1,200 folks, has introduced respite to the two.3mn folks residing within the Gaza strip. A minimum of 13,300 folks have been killed within the intense Israeli bombardment, Palestinian well being officers say, whereas 1.7mn have been compelled to flee their properties, making a humanitarian disaster.
The Israeli army has vowed to proceed combating after the ceasefire ends. The liberating of the primary hostages “fills us with aid”, stated IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari in a video posted on social media community X. However, he added, “Israel will dismantle Hamas by the top of this struggle”.
Whereas the discharge of hostages has introduced excellent news for some households, many others nonetheless have no idea if their family have survived.
After the primary group of detainees was launched on Friday, Noam Peri stated she had obtained phrase that her father, 85-year-old peace activist Haim, was alive.
“It brings a variety of hope and but [at the same time] we really feel it’s very pressing to let all of them out,” she stated, including that Haim trusted medicine after struggling a coronary heart assault a while in the past. “We don’t understand how a lot time they’re going to have the ability to maintain on there.”
Nadav Rudaeff believes his 61-year-old father Lior is being held by Hamas however has had no proof that he’s nonetheless alive.
“We’re nonetheless right here 50 days later, making an attempt to persuade and demand the communities in Israel and around the globe to return forth and assist us in bringing the strain for everybody to be launched,” he stated.
“It’s crucial and it can not go silent till each final certainly one of them is coming again.”
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