SRINAGAR: Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire intended to end the devastating Gaza war, the deadliest conflict ever between Israelis and Palestinians, reports BBC.
US President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that both sides had “signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan,” adding that all hostages would be released soon and Israeli troops would withdraw to an agreed line. Trump described the deal as “a GREAT Day for the Arab and Muslim World, Israel, all surrounding Nations, and the United States of America,” and thanked mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey for facilitating the “Historic and Unprecedented Event.”
The announcement came just hours after Trump told reporters at the White House that he was prepared to travel to the Middle East as early as this weekend. Negotiations were conducted indirectly between Israel and Hamas, mediated by Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff, his son-in-law Jared Kushner, and diplomats from Egypt, Qatar and Turkey in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as per Reuters, confirmed that the Israeli cabinet would meet on Thursday to vote on the ceasefire deal “to approve the agreement and bring all our beloved hostages home.” Netanyahu expressed “heartfelt thanks to President Trump and his team for their dedication to this sacred mission,” adding that the two leaders shared “a very emotional and warm conversation.” Netanyahu also invited Trump to address the Knesset.
According to preliminary details, the agreement calls for Hamas to release nearly 50 hostages — both living and deceased — in exchange for Israel freeing around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. A senior White House official said the ceasefire could take effect within 24 hours of the Israeli cabinet’s approval, with hostage releases expected to begin by Monday.
Trump’s peace plan also outlines Hamas’s disarmament and withdrawal from governance in Gaza, paving the way for a transitional administration made up of “qualified Palestinians and international experts.” An international “Board of Peace,” chaired by Trump, would oversee Gaza’s reconstruction and political transition. However, the plan’s reference to a “credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood” remains vague.
The deal represents the first significant breakthrough after multiple failed ceasefires since the war began. Previous truces collapsed within weeks amid renewed hostilities.
The conflict erupted on October 7, 2023 when Hamas launched a surprise attack on southern Israel, killing nearly 1,200 people, most of them civilians. Israel’s fierce retaliation has since killed more than 67,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and destroyed much of Gaza’s infrastructure.
While the ceasefire raises hopes for relief and reconstruction, experts warn that rebuilding Gaza’s homes, hospitals, and utilities will take years. The political future of the Palestinian territories — and prospects for a lasting peace — remain uncertain.
The agreement marks a rare moment of optimism after two years of catastrophic warfare, as exhausted civilians on both sides await an end to the bloodshed.
