CAIRO – In a dramatic turn after nearly two years of conflict, Israel and Hamas have reached an agreement for a ceasefire in Gaza accompanied by a hostage-prisoner exchange, marking a high point in U.S. diplomatic efforts to end the war on Gaza.
The agreement, brokered via indirect negotiations in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, outlines a phased halt in military operations, partial repositioning of Israeli forces, and the release of all remaining hostages held by Hamas in return for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
Under the terms, Hamas is to hand over the surviving Israeli captives, currently estimated at around 20, along with the bodies of about 28 deceased hostages, within 72 hours of the ceasefire taking effect.
In exchange, Israel will free approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including 250 serving life sentences.
While the truce will enter force pending ratification by Israel’s government, both sides’ representatives have signified commitment to implementation.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: “With God’s help we will bring them all home.” Hamas, in its statement, confirmed its part and urged guarantor states to ensure full compliance.
The news triggered scenes of relief in both Israel and Gaza. In Tel Aviv, families of hostages gathered in anticipation, while in Gaza, displaced civilians, many living in tents after widespread destruction & bombing, expressed hope for a respite and increased humanitarian assistance.
International leaders welcomed the deal. President Trump, whose proposal underpinned the agreement, praised the moment as a possible turning point.
Yet analysts caution that major issues remain unresolved: how Gaza’s governance will be structured post-conflict, whether Hamas will fully disarm, and how reconstruction can proceed in a war-torn territory.
Critics and sceptics note that previous ceasefires have unravelled, pointing to the fragile trust between the parties, specially Israel’s breaking of ceasefire multiple times and the logistical challenges of locating hostages among Gaza’s rubble.
Meanwhile, hard-line factions within the Israeli government have vowed to oppose any deal, although they say they will not collapse the coalition over it.
The ceasefire and exchange operation, should it proceed as planned, would represent the most substantial diplomatic breakthrough yet in the Gaza conflict, though whether it endures depends on enforcement, political will, and the capacity of all parties to adhere to the agreement’s terms.
Sources: Al Jazeera, Reuters, Associated Press, The Guardian