Lucy Williamson

It was a moment of theatre in a theatre of war. Four women, led by Hamas fighters, to a podium in Gaza City. Israeli soldiers, captured by Hamas gunmen 15 months ago, freed live on camera with a signature from the Red Cross. In Tel Aviv, Liri Elbag's friends watched her release, a moment imagined many times, still unreal. CHEERING Tal Dimant is a childhood friend.

It was a moment of theatre in a theatre of war. Four women, led by Hamas fighters, to a podium in Gaza City. Israeli soldiers, captured by Hamas gunmen 15 months ago, freed live on camera with a signature from the Red Cross. In Tel Aviv, Liri Elbag's friends watched her release, a moment imagined many times, still unreal. CHEERING Tal Dimant is a childhood friend.

In Gaza today, the waiting continued. Families gathered near the coastal road, waiting for Israeli troops to leave and the promise of returning to their homes in the north.

In Gaza today, the waiting continued. Families gathered near the coastal road, waiting for Israeli troops to leave and the promise of returning to their homes in the north.

That return is now delayed after Israel accused Hamas of breaching the deal by delaying the release of a civilian female hostage, Abel Yehud, believed to be held by another militia group.

That return is now delayed after Israel accused Hamas of breaching the deal by delaying the release of a civilian female hostage, Abel Yehud, believed to be held by another militia group.

The fires in the Palestinian village of Al-Funduk were visible from miles away. Plastic and chemicals fuelling the blaze at a gardening centre, torched by Jewish settlers, metres from Mohammed's family house.

The fires in the Palestinian village of Al-Funduk were visible from miles away. Plastic and chemicals fuelling the blaze at a gardening centre, torched by Jewish settlers, metres from Mohammed's family house.

Dozens of masked men came to the village, escorted, residents said, by Israeli soldiers. They surrounded several homes and torched vehicles and buildings. Earlier this month, three Israelis were killed in a shooting attack by Palestinians on passing vehicles in Al-Funduk. And the release of Palestinian prisoners here this week as part of the Gaza ceasefire deal risks fueling calls for revenge.

Dozens of masked men came to the village, escorted, residents said, by Israeli soldiers. They surrounded several homes and torched vehicles and buildings. Earlier this month, three Israelis were killed in a shooting attack by Palestinians on passing vehicles in Al-Funduk. And the release of Palestinian prisoners here this week as part of the Gaza ceasefire deal risks fueling calls for revenge.

Some violent settlers see the ceasefire deal as a reward for Hamas and say there's a price Palestinians in the West Bank must pay. The new US president, Donald Trump, has signalled he's less inclined than his predecessor to intervene to stop them, lifting sanctions on extremist settlers as soon as he entered office. Louie Tayem is the mayor of Funduk.

Some violent settlers see the ceasefire deal as a reward for Hamas and say there's a price Palestinians in the West Bank must pay. The new US president, Donald Trump, has signalled he's less inclined than his predecessor to intervene to stop them, lifting sanctions on extremist settlers as soon as he entered office. Louie Tayem is the mayor of Funduk.

In the neighboring outpost of Ramat Gilad, one young man described the tensions between Israelis and Palestinians here as a war without end.

In the neighboring outpost of Ramat Gilad, one young man described the tensions between Israelis and Palestinians here as a war without end.

Israel's army launched a fresh incursion in the Palestinian city of Jenin within hours. There were reports of at least eight people killed. Hamas responded by calling on Palestinians across the West Bank to confront Israeli forces. Palestinians here, angered by Israel's military confrontation. Jewish settlers, angered by Israel's truce.

Israel's army launched a fresh incursion in the Palestinian city of Jenin within hours. There were reports of at least eight people killed. Hamas responded by calling on Palestinians across the West Bank to confront Israeli forces. Palestinians here, angered by Israel's military confrontation. Jewish settlers, angered by Israel's truce.

The ceasefire deal has now passed the final hurdle in Israel's political process and is set to begin on Sunday with the first in a series of prisoner exchanges. Two ministers from far-right parties in the coalition voted against the deal, but the promise of bringing home 33 Israeli hostages won over many others in the cabinet, like Culture Minister Miki Zohar.

The ceasefire deal has now passed the final hurdle in Israel's political process and is set to begin on Sunday with the first in a series of prisoner exchanges. Two ministers from far-right parties in the coalition voted against the deal, but the promise of bringing home 33 Israeli hostages won over many others in the cabinet, like Culture Minister Miki Zohar.

While the three-stage structure of this deal has reassured some politicians, it has caused division and anxiety among some of the hostage families, some fearing that their relatives will be abandoned in Gaza after the first phase is done, others beginning to imagine that their relatives might come home. Daniel Lifshitz's grandfather Oded is one of those due to be released.

While the three-stage structure of this deal has reassured some politicians, it has caused division and anxiety among some of the hostage families, some fearing that their relatives will be abandoned in Gaza after the first phase is done, others beginning to imagine that their relatives might come home. Daniel Lifshitz's grandfather Oded is one of those due to be released.