Hamas Commander Killed in War with Israel: Ahmed Al-Ghandour Dead
In a major development in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, the militant group announced the death of one of its top commanders, Ahmed Al-Ghandour. Al-Ghandour was a high-ranking member of Hamas’ armed wing and served as their top commander in northern Gaza. He had survived multiple Israeli attempts on his life since 2002. The news of his death comes as the tense truce between Israel and Hamas appears to be back on track after the release of a second group of hostages and prisoners.
Delicate Truce and Fragile Exchange
The exchange of hostages and prisoners between Israel and Hamas was delayed on Saturday evening due to accusations from Hamas that Israel had violated the agreement. However, Qatar and Egypt, who mediate with Hamas, announced late Saturday that the obstacles had been overcome. As part of the exchange, Hamas released 17 hostages, including 13 Israelis, while Israel freed 39 Palestinian prisoners. Thousands of people gathered in Tel Aviv to call for the release of all the estimated 240 people captured by Hamas in their October 7 attack. The war has already claimed the lives of over 1,200 Israelis and more than 13,300 Palestinians.
Aid and Respite in Gaza
The four-day truce brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States has provided a few days of calm for Gaza’s 2.3 million people. The pause has allowed for the delivery of food, water, and medicine to the largest volume since the start of the war. The United Nations has also been able to deliver fuel and cooking gas, as well as aid to northern Gaza for the first time in a month. However, Hamas alleged that aid deliveries fell short of expectations and that not enough was reaching the north.
Bittersweet Moment for Hostage Families
Hamas released a second group of hostages, including 13 Israelis and four Thais. The hostages appeared shaken but mostly in good physical condition as they were led to Red Cross vehicles. Among the released hostages were seven children and six women, most of whom were from Kibbutz Be’eri, a community that was ravaged by Hamas militants during their October 7 attack. The residents of Be’eri, who have been living in a Dead Sea hotel since the attack, have been deeply affected by the events, with some having lost family members or still having loved ones in captivity.
A Hero’s Welcome in the West Bank
Some of the Palestinian prisoners were released in East Jerusalem, while the majority returned home to a hero’s welcome in the occupied West Bank. Among those released were Nurhan Awad, who was sentenced to 13 1/2 years in jail for attempting to stab an Israeli soldier, and Israa Jaabis, who had been imprisoned since 2015 for a bomb attack that wounded an Israeli police officer. In the West Bank town of Al-Bireh, newly released teenage boys waved Palestinian flags and banners of Hamas and Fatah, the rival party of President Mahmoud Abbas.
Escalation of Violence in the West Bank
The war in Gaza has been accompanied by a surge in violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Five Palestinians were killed in an Israeli military raid in the northern West Bank city of Jenin. The military claimed to have arrested a suspect in the killing of an Israeli father and son at a car wash earlier this year. The army has conducted frequent raids and arrests of Palestinians suspected of being Hamas members.
As the truce continues, the fragile peace between Israel and Hamas hangs in the balance. The release of hostages and prisoners has provided a temporary respite for both sides, but the underlying tensions and grievances remain. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, hoping for a lasting resolution to the conflict.