Israel and Hamas have agreed to a long-awaited ceasefire and a crucial hostage deal, thereby launching the first phase of US President Donald Trump’s ambitious plan to finally halt the devastating war in Gaza. This conflict, which tragically killed more than 67,000 people and fundamentally reshaped the volatile Middle East, saw this breakthrough emerge from indirect talks held in Egypt.
Just a day after the second anniversary of the Hamas cross-border attack, which originally triggered Israel’s massive military response, negotiators reached an accord on Trump’s 20-point framework.
If fully implemented, consequently, the agreement brings the two long-standing foes closer than any previous diplomatic effort to stop a regional conflict involving Iran, Yemen, and Lebanon. However, President Trump announced the breakthrough late on Wednesday, but crucial details remained scarce, raising many unresolved questions that could still cause the deal’s swift collapse. “I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan,” Trump proclaimed on Truth Social.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu immediately announced he would convene his government on Thursday to swiftly approve the terms of the historic agreement. Furthermore, Hamas confirmed they reached an agreement promising an Israeli withdrawal from the enclave alongside a comprehensive hostage-prisoner exchange.
Hostage Release and Unresolved Issues
Gaza authorities report more than 67,000 civilian people died, and Israeli officials confirm 1,200 people died during the initial Hamas attack, with 251 people taken hostage. Approximately 20 of the 48 remaining captives are reportedly still alive.
Consequently, a Hamas source indicated they will release the living hostages within 72 hours of the Israeli government’s official approval of the diplomatic agreement. Despite the emotional relief, crucial questions are pending resolution, including the post-war administration for the devastated Gaza Strip and determining the future fate of Hamas itself.
Therefore, celebrations quickly erupted in both Gaza and Israel following the announcement, reflecting widespread hopes for an imminent end to the prolonged violence and bloodshed. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for all parties to fully abide by the negotiated terms, demanding the immediate, unimpeded entry of humanitarian supplies into the enclave.
Moreover, Arab countries supporting the overall peace plan insist it must ultimately lead to an independent Palestinian state, a long-term goal which Netanyahu has repeatedly stated he will definitively reject.
