Israel and Hamas have reached a pivotal agreement to implement a ceasefire and release hostages held in Gaza, marking a potential turning point in the devastating conflict that has spanned over 15 months. The deal, brokered through intense negotiations involving U.S., Qatari, Egyptian, and Israeli officials, is set to go into effect Sunday, pending approval by Israel's cabinet.
The ceasefire follows one of the deadliest periods in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with more than 46,500 Palestinians killed since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. That attack left approximately 1,200 Israelis dead and led to the capture of 251 hostages, including seven Americans. The Ministry of Health in Gaza reports that the ongoing conflict has also displaced millions, exacerbating shortages of food, medicine, and shelter.
Under the agreement, 33 hostages will be released during the initial six-week phase, in exchange for more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. The hostages slated for release include women, children, and elderly individuals. U.S. officials confirmed that two Americans, Keith Siegel and Sagui Dekel-Chen, are among those to be freed.
President Joe Biden praised the breakthrough, calling it a result of "dogged and painstaking American diplomacy." Biden added that the agreement would "halt the fighting in Gaza, surge much-needed humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians, and reunite the hostages with their families." President-elect Donald Trump, who will be inaugurated next week, commented on Truth Social, stating, "We have a deal for the hostages in the Middle East."
Negotiations were led by mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and the U.S., including Biden's Middle East adviser Brett McGurk and Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff. Talks reached a critical juncture last weekend, with Hamas representatives in Doha agreeing to the terms after securing approval from military leadership in Gaza.
The deal also mandates a phased withdrawal of Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) from populated areas in Gaza to designated buffer zones near the Israeli border. Displaced Palestinians will be allowed to return to their homes, while the movement of vehicles will be monitored by Qatari and Egyptian officials to prevent the smuggling of heavy weapons.
The humanitarian provisions include the delivery of 600 aid trucks daily, comprising food, medicine, and 50 fuel trucks. Additional support includes 200,000 tents and 60,000 mobile homes to shelter displaced families in Gaza.
The agreement outlines a second phase of negotiations to begin on the 16th day of the ceasefire, focusing on the release of remaining hostages, a permanent ceasefire, and a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Reconstruction efforts, estimated to take years, will follow, along with the return of any remaining hostages' bodies.
The deal faces some internal opposition, with Israel's far-right national security minister vowing to vote against it. Approval by the Israeli cabinet is anticipated as early as Thursday, after which the names of Palestinian prisoners slated for release will be published. Victims' families will have 48 hours to appeal.
Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya declared the October 7 attack a "source of pride," reiterating the group's goal to "expel the occupation from our land." Meanwhile, critics have voiced concerns about the long-term sustainability of the agreement, given the deep-rooted animosities and the heavy toll exacted by the war.