For seven days the rockets stopped firing, the bombs stopped dropping and the ground stopped shaking. After seven weeks of devastation, a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, mediated by Qatari negotiators, brought a glimmer of hope to fractured families. A number of hostages on both sides – mostly women and children – were to be released and families dared to dream their loved ones would be among those freed.

Source: Washington Post December 07, 2023 09:49 UTC