"Today at 9:30 a.m., Air Force One made a low pass over Tel Aviv on its way into Ben Gurion Airport. The flight had more in common with an astronomical portent-a medieval comet, say, and all the swings in mood that might entail among the public-than a mere act of aviation. Israelis had stayed up for days in hopes that hostages would be released. The sight of the 747 meant: This is really happening."
"Within a few hours, it had happened. Hamas surrendered the last 20 of its living hostages to Israel and began the process of returning the remains of dozens more. (One hundred and forty had previously been released, eight had been freed in Israeli raids, and the remaining 75 or so are presumed dead.) Israel, having withdrawn its forces from much of Gaza on Friday, released 1,968 Palestinian prisoners."
"The Israelis who had let themselves get carried away with expectant joy during the past few days were for once not punished for their optimism. Gazans who for two years had become accustomed to dozens of their neighbors being killed every day, on average, by Israel suddenly enjoyed the possibility of a hiatus. A war that started with the murder of more than 1,000 Israelis by Hamas, and went on to kill more Gazans than can be precisely counted, appears to have ended."
Air Force One made a low pass over Tel Aviv, signaling imminent developments. Within hours Hamas surrendered the last 20 living hostages and began returning the remains of dozens more; 140 had been released earlier, eight freed in Israeli raids, and about 75 are presumed dead. Israel withdrew forces from much of Gaza and released 1,968 Palestinian prisoners. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared victory, and Donald Trump hailed a new peace while political incentives aimed to preserve his image. The conflict that began with over 1,000 Israeli deaths produced massive Gazan casualties and now appears to have ended.
Read at The Atlantic
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