Two years of war. Nearly 68,000 Palestinians dead, and almost 2,000 Israelis killed. Gaza flattened and lakhs of families torn apart. Homes reduced to rubble. And on Monday, a first step in a long road: hostages were freed, and prisoners were returned. For a moment, there was relief, even hope. Relief for the families of the living hostages, hope for an end to the fighting. But the questions did not disappear with the celebrations. Israel and Hamas took an important first step in implementing the Gaza ceasefire agreement on Monday by releasing hostages and prisoners, raising expectations that the US-brokered deal could eventually bring a permanent end to the two-year war that devastated the Palestinian territory. For many Israelis, the release of the 20 remaining living hostages broug

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