Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal brings hope, but Gaza bombing continues as hostage families hold their breath

THE agreement reached between Israel and Hamas in favor of a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of the hostages immediately aroused the jubilation of thousands of people across the decimated Palestinian territory, but both there and in the streets of Israel, the hope was still limited by anxiety Thursday morning. Nervousness was fueled both by the growing bloodshed in Gaza and by doubts expressed by the Israeli leader about the strength of the agreement announced the previous evening.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that a “last-minute crisis” with Hamas was delaying Israel’s final approval of the long-sought truce. Israeli media suggested the delay was likely because Netanyahu was trying to buy time to deal with the radical nationalists in his cabinet, who have always fiercely opposed any deal with Hamas.

“We hope that the agreement will take place as described yesterday and according to the timetable we have set, so that implementation will begin on Sunday with a ceasefire and the release of the first hostages,” said Jonathan Finer , Deputy National Security Advisor of the United States. Thursday on “CBS Mornings,” acknowledging “a set of implementation details and conditions that are going to be a challenge throughout the implementation of this agreement, which is going to extend into the next administration.”

Finer said President Biden spoke with Netanyahu “twice in the past few days, including yesterday after the deal was reached in Doha.”

The deal is fragile and its logistics will be extremely complex – even Hamas transporting the hostages safely to a transfer point will present significant security challenges.

The agreement is not expected to come into force until Sunday, and with the increase in Israeli military numbers attacks in Gaza Rather than easing them as a result of the deal — and none of the roughly 100 hostages are expected to return home for several days — no one who spoke with CBS News on either side of the border seemed willing to take peace for granted which loomed tantalizingly right after. the horizon.

In Gaza, “a new chance to live”

For the people of Gaza, this was the best news possible. Learning that the relentless bombardment of their towns and villages would end on Sunday brought immense relief and joy.

A little boy who spoke to the CBS News crew in the enclave summed up the situation in three words: “We’re going home!”

Mahmood Kurdia, who lives in the southern town of Khan Younis after being forced to leave his home in northern Gaza, said he can’t wait to return, even though he knows he has virtually nothing left. where to return.

“I want to go home to see my family, my neighbors and my house. Even though my house is ruins now, I still want to see it. I want to remove the rubble and set up my tent on top of the ruins and tell Israel that I’m back,” he told CBS News on Wednesday.

However, like everyone else, he was perfectly aware that peace, if it came, would not come for another three days.

Israel appeared to intensify its strikes on Wednesday evening, killing more than 70 people between the announcement of the ceasefire agreement and Thursday morning, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry and relief agency. of the Civil Defense of the enclave. Both agencies told CBS News the deaths included 21 children and 24 women.

Yet Kurdia couldn’t help but remain hopeful.

“This news means a new chance to live,” he said. “It means a new chance for us to live and see our children live, grow and receive an education. It is simply a new hope for survival. This is the ceasefire agreement that we hope to achieve. “

Israeli hostage’s cousin is happy, but ‘not breathing’

In Tel Aviv, a small crowd gathered Wednesday evening at the site where protesters have, week after week, demanded that the Israeli government repatriate the remaining hostages.

Yifat Kalderon was among them. His cousin Ofer was among 251 people kidnapped in the October 7, 2023 Hamas terror attack that saw militants kill some 1,200 people and sparked the war that has raged for nearly 480 days.

Ofer was among dozens of people kidnapped by gunmen who stormed Kibbutz Nir Oz. Aged over 50, he is expected to be among the hostages released by Hamas in the first phase of the three-phase ceasefire agreement.

But when asked if she felt immense relief Wednesday night, Kalderon made it clear the emotion would have to wait.

“No,” she said. “I’m going to feel a huge sense of relief when this is done. When are we going to bring all 90 to 98 live hostages and the dead home.”

As bombs continue to fall on Gaza and there is no indication of a new level of trust between Israel and Hamas, families of hostages across Israel have been left to wait and worry about anything else that could go wrong.

“I’m not saying I’m not happy,” Kalderon said. “But I’m trying to, you know, take care of myself, not be, you know, I don’t want to – I want to see them, first and foremost. Until I see them crossing the border.” border… I won’t believe anything.”

“I’m not breathing until then – we’re going to take them all home.”