‘A Ray of Lightness Among Weeks of Darkness’: Human Rights Watch Director on Israel-Hamas Hostages Deal

EXCERPT:

SHAKIR: “Look, this is a ray of light amongst weeks of darkness. You have a situation, of course, where hostages, as you discussed on your program, had been held for weeks, away from their family. You have Yafa Adar, whose daughter we interviewed, was in need of medication, uses a Walker, people who really needed to be out in custody. In Gaza, you have an entire civilian population, more than six weeks, have been struggling to survive. Whether they survive, or not, it was a product of luck than anything else. You have a reality where many of them without food, medicine, water, for days, and have been really struggling to have the basic necessities of life. So, for many of them, it is a chance to check on their homes, their loved ones. You have Palestinian prisoners who, in many cases, have been in detention for years — women, children, who have a chance to be reunited with their families. It is a glimmer of hope, but much more is needed to address, really, the serious concerns for civilians that we continue to have an Israel Palestine.”