Israel and Hamas have reached a significant agreement to cease hostilities in Gaza and release hostages held on both sides. The deal includes a temporary halt to fighting in the Gaza Strip and the phased release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners.
Hamas officials have urged Gaza residents to wait for the official start of the ceasefire before attempting to return to their abandoned homes.
US President-elect Donald Trump confirmed the agreement on Truth Social, writing hostages will be freed soon. The United States, Qatar, and Egypt, which mediated the negotiations, are expected to make an official statement shortly.
According to reports, Israel’s Security Cabinet will convene tomorrow at 11:00 AM to approve the deal.
Key Details of the Agreement:
First phase envisages that over the next 42 days, Hamas is expected to release 33 Israeli hostages, including children, women, elderly, and sick individuals.
On the 16th day after the agreement takes effect, Israel will initiate talks for the release of male hostages, which will be the sevond phase.
In exchange, Israel will gradually withdraw its troops from most parts of Gaza, while maintaining control over a buffer zone to protect its borders.
Israel will free Palestinian prisoners, including 1,000 individuals, of whom approximately 190 are serving sentences of over 15 years.
Hamas has stated that for each of the five Israeli female soldiers held hostage, 50 Palestinian prisoners will be released.
The third phase of the agreement involves the return of hostage remains, reconstruction plans for Gaza, and the establishment of a new governance structure.
Given the lack of trust between Israel and Hamas, the deal is divided into stages, with each step contingent on the successful completion of the previous one.
This is not the first exchange of hostages between the two parties. In November 2023, a temporary ceasefire led to the release of 105 hostages by Hamas in exchange for 150 convicted militants, fuel, and other supplies. Four more hostages were rescued in June 2024 during an Israeli Defense Forces operation.
The latest agreement follows a prolonged conflict sparked by Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which killed 1,200 people and resulted in the capture of 250 hostages. The Israeli operation, “Iron Swords,” has been ongoing for over a year, with intense fighting in Gaza’s northern border region.
