Early this morning, Hamas and Israel reached a deal for the exchange of hostages. The agreement involves the return of 30 children and 20 women to Israel in exchange for a five-day ceasefire and the release of 150 Palestinians who are in Israeli custody and have been accused or convicted of serious crimes. The deal also includes a provision where each additional 10 Israeli hostages freed will buy another day of respite from fighting. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized the sacred duty of redeeming Jewish prisoners and quoted the 12th-century sage, Maimonides, in his argument for the deal.

The far-right segment of the Israeli government was split on the deal, with three ministers voting against it and 35 others consenting. The mood inside Israel is one of tentative relief, which is expected to turn into immense relief once the children are reunited with their families.

However, the question remains: did Israel and the US reach this deal with Hamas in exchange for hostages? There have been speculations that the US may have supported Israel's seizure of al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City as part of an informal agreement. The US has not provided evidence for the claim that there was a Hamas command center beneath the hospital, leading to doubts about the rationale behind the attack. If the exchange of hostages is part of a broader agreement between Israel, the US, and Hamas, it marks a significant shift in their relationship.