SCOTT SIMON, HOST:
The clock has started to implement President Trump's plan to end the war in Gaza. In this initial phase, Hamas has 72 hours, until approximately noon Monday, local time, to release all hostages held in Gaza. In exchange, Israel will free some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. NPR's Carrie Kahn is in Tel Aviv. Carrie, thanks for being with us.
CARRIE KAHN, BYLINE: Good morning.
SIMON: What have you been hearing from Gaza now that Israeli troops have pulled back?
KAHN: We are seeing a massive movement of people coming out, trying to reclaim some of their lives, assessing damage, just taking in the sheer devastation and destruction of Gaza after two years of war. NPR's reporter Anas Baba, who is in Gaza City, sent us amazing images and testimonies of this flood of people on foot walking amidst rubble. They're coming from south to north toward Gaza City, which has just been under this punishing massive offensive by Israel and is in ruins. Baba says, for the first time, there are no Israeli bombardments or airstrikes, and people are out trying to find shelter, clearing rubble. He says they are on the move.
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ANAS BABA, BYLINE: It feels like I'm witnessing a place being born again. But Gazans here, they don't wait for permission to live. They carry hope like oxygen. Gaza is not only rubble. Gaza is resilience. And what I see today is people staggered and stubborn but righting themselves back into existence.
KAHN: We're now watching for promised surge of aid through the U.N. allowed back into Gaza soon. That'll include food, shelters and vital medical supplies.
SIMON: And meanwhile, Israel waits for the return of 20 living and as many as 28 dead hostages. What is the mood in Israel?
KAHN: There is celebration. There's hope and cautious optimism, I'd say. I was at the downtown Tel Aviv public plaza, dubbed Hostage Square, where there has been a lot of hugging and adulation for President Trump for personally brokering this deal. I also spent time yesterday with the nursing director of Beilinson Hospital. That's in central Israel. A third of the released hostages will be taken there. I spoke with Dr. Michal Steinman, and she says everything is ready for them - rooms, medical care, family areas. And she also said, this time will be different since these hostages released are the last ones. They will not be leaving anyone behind, which was very traumatic for those freed in the past.
MICHAL STEINMAN: I'm telling them, welcome home, so glad to see you, so glad. And you're in good hands. You're in good hands. You came home. We're here. We'll take care of you.
KAHN: She says reintroducing food will be difficult and will be gradual. They will get rehab and all the medical care necessary.
SIMON: What are some of the challenges ahead, Carrie?
KAHN: There are a lot. But I'd say the top two are disarming Hamas and governance of Gaza after the initial hostage and prisoner detainee exchange is over. Trump's plan calls for an international so-called board of peace to take over Gaza, which will be run by Trump and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. There are a lot of details about how that will be constituted and run.
Late last night, Hamas issued a statement to say they would not accept any, quote, "foreign guardianship" and that governing Gaza was a Palestinian matter. Hamas-run civil police force has already been seen on the streets in areas where the Israeli army withdrew. Yesterday, too, we heard Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu talking tough, like he always does, reiterating that Hamas must disarm or face a resumption of military action.
SIMON: Carrie Kahn in Tel Aviv, thanks so much.
KAHN: You're welcome. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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