The release of Israeli hostages and the return of Palestinians to their Gaza homes has largely obscured the question of whether the war will now resume.

Monday is the 500th day of the war triggered by Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023 attack into southern Israel. A tenuous ceasefire in the Gaza Strip has held for nearly a month. But the current phase of the truce is set to expire in early March and it is unclear if the sides will extend it, begin negotiations for a more lasting ceasefire or resume fighting.

Israelis have held protests calling for the Gaza ceasefire to be extended so more hostages abducted in the October 7 attack can be freed.