A landmark ceasefire agreement between Israel and
Hamas has been reached, paving the way for the release of hostages and hundreds
of Palestinian prisoners, following a 20-point peace plan announced last month
by U.S. President Donald Trump.
The deal — to be signed Thursday in Egypt — includes
Israel’s pledge to withdraw troops from Gaza and allow a surge of humanitarian
aid after more than two years of devastating conflict. In exchange, Hamas will
release 20 living hostages for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners in the first
phase, to occur within 72 hours of implementation.
President Trump, who received an urgent note on the
progress of the negotiations during a White House event, said he expects “all
hostages to be home by Monday.” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has led the
talks alongside Egyptian and Qatari mediators in Sharm El-Sheikh.
The ceasefire has sparked celebrations across Gaza and
Tel Aviv, with displaced residents expressing relief after years of relentless
bombardment. “Tears of joy flowed,” said Samer Joudeh, a displaced Palestinian.
“We finally feel like we’re getting a moment of respite.”
Under the agreement, Hamas will free 47 hostages—both
living and deceased—while Israel will release 250 Palestinians serving life
sentences and 1,700 others detained since the war began.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to
“bring the hostages home with God’s help” and is expected to seek cabinet
approval for the deal on Thursday.
The war, triggered by Hamas’s surprise October 2023
attack that killed 1,219 people in Israel, has since claimed at least 67,183
lives in Gaza, according to figures from the Hamas-run health ministry, which
the UN regards as credible. More than half of the casualties are women and
children.
The deal marks the most significant breakthrough since
the conflict began, though deeper political issues — including Gaza’s
governance and the disarmament of Hamas — remain unresolved. Trump’s plan calls
for a transitional authority to administer Gaza, potentially led by him in an
oversight capacity, though that proposal has not yet been formally discussed.
Global pressure for an end to the conflict has
intensified amid a UN-declared famine and widespread protests. Both Israel and
Hamas have faced international accusations of war crimes, which they deny.
As the world watches, the Egypt-brokered truce
represents the first major step toward ending a war that has brought immense
suffering to both sides — and could redefine U.S. engagement in Middle East
peace efforts.
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