Israel and Hamas have reached a landmark ceasefire and hostage-release agreement, marking a potential turning point in a war that has devastated Gaza, claimed tens of thousands of lives, and plunged the region into a prolonged humanitarian crisis.
The deal — a key element of US President Donald Trump’s 20-point Gaza Peace Plan unveiled last month — is expected to be formally signed on Thursday in Egypt, according to officials involved in the talks.
Under the agreement, Israel will release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, while Hamas will free the remaining living hostages it has held since the conflict began in October 2023.
The Israeli military confirmed it was preparing to withdraw some troops from Gaza as part of the truce implementation.
Major Breakthrough in Two-Year Conflict
The ceasefire comes after more than two years of relentless fighting, triggered by Hamas’s unprecedented cross-border assault on Israel in October 2023. The war that followed has left Gaza in ruins, with most of its residents displaced and dependent on aid.
The new deal will allow for a massive surge of humanitarian assistance into the enclave — food, medical supplies, and reconstruction materials — after months of severe shortages and blockade restrictions.
A senior Hamas official told AFP that the first phase of the agreement involves the exchange of 20 hostages for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, with the swap expected to take place within 72 hours of the deal’s implementation.
The official added that the exact timing of the implementation would be announced later on Thursday.
President Trump, speaking from Washington, said he believed the remaining hostages would “all be coming back on Monday.”
Celebrations Erupt Across Gaza
News of the ceasefire sparked scenes of jubilation across Gaza, where residents — exhausted by two years of bombardment and displacement — celebrated what many described as a long-overdue moment of hope.
“When I heard the news, I couldn’t hold back my tears,” said Samer Joudeh, a displaced resident in Rafah.
“Two years of bombing, terror, destruction, and fear — and now, finally, a moment of respite.”
In Khan Yunis, AFP footage showed young men and women singing, dancing, and clapping in the streets as families embraced amid tears and prayers.
Trump’s Broader Peace Framework
The ceasefire is the first major step in President Trump’s broader peace roadmap for Gaza.
The plan envisions a phased disarmament of Hamas and the eventual establishment of a transitional governing authority, to be overseen directly by the US president and an international coalition.
That portion of the agreement, however, remains under negotiation, with no timeline yet announced.
Talks between Israeli and Hamas representatives are ongoing through indirect channels at a conference centre in Sharm El-Sheikh, the Egyptian Red Sea resort that has hosted multiple rounds of regional peace diplomacy.
A Fragile Hope for Peace
While the ceasefire offers a rare glimmer of hope after years of bloodshed, diplomats caution that the deal’s success will depend on both sides maintaining restraint and adhering to the terms of implementation in the days ahead.
For millions in Gaza and Israel, however, the prospect of peace — however tentative — feels closer than it has in years.
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