Key Details of the Gaza Ceasefire Agreement
In a significant development, US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that Israel and Hamas have reached an agreement for the first phase of a ceasefire in Gaza. This comes after several days of indirect discussions held in Egypt. The deal was brokered with the assistance of Qatar, Egypt, the United States, and Turkey.
According to Qatar, this agreement marks the “first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, which will lead to ending the genocide, the release of Israeli and Palestinian hostages, and the entry of aid.” On his Truth Social platform, Trump stated that “ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable and Everlasting Peace.”
What Does the Agreement Include?
A Hamas official revealed that the group will exchange 20 living hostages for 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Out of these, 250 are serving life sentences, while 1,700 others have been detained since the start of the aggression. The exchange is expected to occur within 72 hours of the deal’s implementation, which was also “agreed with Palestinian factions,” according to a Palestinian source who spoke with AFP.
The agreement also includes specific Israeli troop withdrawals that will coincide with the hostage exchange and the entry of aid into the famine-stricken Gaza Strip. A Hamas official mentioned that a daily minimum of 400 trucks of aid will enter the Gaza Strip for the first five days of the ceasefire, with the number increasing in the following days.
Additionally, the agreement provides for the “return of displaced persons from the south of the Gaza Strip to Gaza (City) and the north immediately,” as noted by the Hamas official.
Hamas has urged Trump to ensure that Israel fully implements the agreement and does not delay or avoid its obligations.
What Comes Next?
Qatari foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari stated that both sides have agreed on “all the provisions and implementation mechanisms of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to convene his government on Thursday to approve the agreement.
The deal is set to be formally signed on Thursday around midday in Egypt, as reported by a source with knowledge of the agreement, who requested anonymity. A Hamas official indicated that negotiations for the second phase of the ceasefire will begin “immediately.”
Trump’s 20-point plan for Gaza included a ceasefire, the release of all hostages held in Gaza, Hamas’s disarmament, and a gradual Israeli withdrawal from the territory.
