Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement: US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that the first phase of US-backed Gaza peace plan has been agreed upon by Israel and Hamas, which includes release of hostages and ceasefire to hostilities that could act as the first step towards ending the two-year-old war that has roiled the Middle East.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, “This means 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.”
Here are a few details that we know about Gaza ceasefire deal:
- 01
What is known about the deal
The agreement, in the initial stage, resulted from Trump’s 20-point peace plan for Gaza during indirect talks between Israel and Hamas in Egypt, just a day after the second anniversary of Hamas’ attack on Israel that triggered Israel’s devastating war against Gaza. The US-backed Gaza peace talks began in Egypt’s Red Sea resort of Sharm El Sheikh a couple of days ago with delegations from Egypt, Qatar and the United States as intermediaries.
- 02
What has Trump said on Gaza ceasefire deal
The US president announced that both Israel and Hamas have signed off the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire plan and that it would bring the release of all the hostages, alive and dead “very soon”. The ratification of the plan would also mean that Israeli troops would withdraw from Gaza to the so-called “yellow line”. According to a senior Israeli security source quoted by Reuters, the “yellow line” is a boundary for an initial Israeli pull back under Trump’s plan.
- 03
Hamas confirmed the Gaza ceasefire deal with Israel
Hamas confirmed that it has reached an agreement to end the war, confirming that deal includes Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza enclave and a hostage-prisoner release. But Hamas has called upon Trump and the intermediaries involved during the indirect discussion in Egypt to ensure that Israel fully abides by the plan and implements the ceasefire.
- 04
Netanyahu thanks Trump for Gaza ceasefire deal effort
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked US President Trump for the “commitment to this sacred mission of freeing our hostages” and said that he would convene the Israeli government on Thursday to approve the deal. Talking about the hostages in Gaza, Netanyahu said, “With God’s help, we will bring them all home.”
- 05
When will the hostages be released
Hamas is planning to release all the 20 living hostages this weekend, reports have stated. The deceased hostages would be moved out in later stages of the plan, a person familiar with the matter told Associated Press. The report added that Israeli forces would move out of 70% of the area in the enclave.
- 06
What is not known about Gaza ceasefire deal
However, some crucial details related to the deal still remain unknown that include the timing, a post-war administration for the Gaza Strip and the fate of Hamas. The plan lacks a clear indication about who would govern or rule Gaza after the war ends. Trump’s original 20-point plan envisions a role for the Palestinian Authority, but only after the authority has gone under major reforms.
