Web Desk; In a landmark development, Hamas and Israel on Thursday signed a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement, marking the first phase of US President Donald Trump’s peace initiative aimed at ending the Gaza conflict.
The deal was finalized following indirect talks in Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh, with officials from both sides confirming the agreement. Celebrations erupted in parts of Gaza and Israel after the announcement.
Under the agreement, Hamas will release 20 Israeli captives believed to be alive, in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including 250 serving life sentences. Israel will also begin a phased military withdrawal from Gaza, pulling its forces back to an agreed line within 24 hours of the deal’s ratification by the Israeli security cabinet.
According to an Israeli government spokesperson, the ceasefire will come into effect within 24 hours of cabinet approval, with the release of Israeli hostages expected within 72 hours thereafter.
US President Trump hailed the agreement as a “great day for the world,” crediting the mediation efforts of Qatar, Egypt, and Türkiye. “All hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw its troops as the first steps toward a strong, durable, and lasting peace,” Trump said on Truth Social. He also hinted he may visit the Middle East this week to oversee the process.
The agreement comes after two years of Israeli bombardment in Gaza, which began following Hamas’s October 2023 attack. The offensive has killed more than 67,000 people, according to Gaza’s health ministry figures, which the UN deems credible.
The deal is part of a broader 20-point peace plan put forward by Trump, which includes Hamas’s disarmament and future governance arrangements for Gaza. While Arab states insist the plan should pave the way for a Palestinian state, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reiterated his opposition to Palestinian statehood.
The first phase of the agreement is expected to be implemented over the coming days, with aid convoys also scheduled to enter Gaza immediately after the ceasefire begins.
