Although the interim ceasefire agreement agreed between Israel and Hamas is welcome and long overdue, there is good reason not to celebrate. With so many cynical and bad-faith actors involved — in Israel, Gaza, Qatar, Washington and elsewhere — it’s hard to believe that even the first phase will pass before we see the first group of hostages return on Sunday .
If that happens, this first phase is expected to see Israeli women, children and elderly people released in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. According to a list just released by the Israeli government, these Palestinians will mainly be women, minors and men arrested for non-violent offenses.
The second and third phases, which would involve the release of Palestinian activists with a history of violence, are even more uncertain. Notably, many of the 1,027 Palestinians released in exchange for captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in 2011 later participated in attacks against Israel — including Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
Swiss
