JERUSALEM/GAZA – A fragile wave of relief and celebration swept across Israel and the Gaza Strip on Thursday following the announcement of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire and hostage release deal, offering the first tangible hope of ending a devastating two-year war that has killed tens of thousands and reshaped the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East.
The agreement, reached through indirect talks in Egypt, represents the successful implementation of the first phase of a 20-point peace framework presented by U.S. President Donald Trump. Its announcement came on the somber eve of the second anniversary of the October 7, 2023, Hamas incursion into southern Israel, the event that triggered the conflict.
If fully realized, the accord would mark the most significant step in decades toward halting a war that escalated into a regional conflagration, drawing in Iran-backed proxies like Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthis and repeatedly threatening to ignite a wider war.
Scenes of Jubilation and Cautious Relief
The news prompted immediate and emotional outbursts of joy. In Tel Aviv’s “Hostages Square,” the epicenter of a prolonged protest movement demanding government action, families of the captives embraced, wept, and set off fireworks as the deal was confirmed.
“President Trump, thank you. We thank him, our children would not have returned home without him,” said Hatan Angrest, father of hostage Matan Angrest.
In Gaza, where the conflict has inflicted unimaginable destruction, crowds gathered in the rubble of Khan Younis, clapping, cheering, and chanting. The sound of celebratory gunfire echoed, a stark contrast to the percussive thud of airstrikes that had defined life for so long.
“Thank God for the ceasefire, the end of bloodshed and killing,” said Abdul Majeed Abd Rabbo, a resident of Khan Younis. “I am not the only one happy, all of the Gaza Strip is happy, all the Arab people, all of the world is happy.”
Palestinian Khaled Shaat echoed the sentiment of exhausted hope, calling the moment “historic… long awaited by Palestinian citizens after two years of killing and genocide that was committed with arrogance against the Palestinian people.”
The Deal’s Framework and Trump’s Role
In a post on his Truth Social platform, President Trump proudly announced the breakthrough. “I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan,” he wrote. “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.”
The successful brokering of the deal would constitute a major foreign policy victory for Trump, who campaigned on resolving intractable global conflicts but has faced challenges in delivering swift resolutions, notably in Ukraine.
According to officials from both sides, the initial phase includes:
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The release of all remaining Israeli hostages held in Gaza.
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A significant withdrawal of Israeli forces from the enclave to pre-arranged lines.
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A reciprocal exchange of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.
A Hamas source indicated that living hostages would be handed over within 72 hours of the Israeli government’s formal approval. The recovery of the bodies of deceased hostages, believed to number around 28, is expected to take longer due to the extensive rubble across Gaza.
Leadership Reactions: Victory and Resolve
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who convened his security cabinet to ratify the agreement, framed it as a triumph. “With the approval of the first phase of the plan, ALL our hostages will be brought home,” he said in a statement. “This is a diplomatic success and a national and moral victory for the State of Israel.”
He and Trump spoke by phone, congratulating each other on an “historic achievement,” with Netanyahu inviting the U.S. president to address the Knesset, Israel’s parliament.
Hamas, in its own statement, confirmed the agreement and framed it as a validation of its resistance. “We affirm that the sacrifices of our people will not be in vain, and that we will remain true to our pledge – never abandoning our people’s national rights until freedom, independence, and self-determination are achieved.” The group has so far refused to discuss Israeli demands for its disarmament, a Palestinian source stating it would be rejected as long as Israeli troops occupy Palestinian land.
The Devastating Toll and Mounting Pressure
The conflict has exacted a horrific human cost. According to Gaza health authorities, confirmed by UN data, more than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed, and much of the coastal territory has been reduced to ruins. In Israel, the initial Hamas attack killed approximately 1,200 people, with 251 taken hostage. Israeli officials believe 20 of the 48 hostages still in captivity are alive.
The war also triggered a dramatic regional realignment. Israel scored significant tactical victories, assassinating top leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah and killing senior Iranian commanders. However, these actions were accompanied by growing global isolation and condemnation. Multiple human rights experts, scholars, and a UN inquiry have accused Israel of committing acts amounting to genocide—a charge Israel vehemently denies, maintaining its actions are in self-defense.
The Road Ahead: Perilous and Uncharted
Despite the celebratory mood, the agreement announced by Trump was notably short on critical details, leaving many of the most contentious issues unresolved and threatening the deal’s long-term viability.
The most pressing unanswered questions include:
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Post-War Governance: There is no consensus on who will administer Gaza after the war. Netanyahu, Trump, Western powers, and Arab states have all ruled out a continued role for Hamas. Hamas, in turn, has stated it would only relinquish control to a Palestinian technocrat government supervised by the Palestinian Authority and backed by Arab nations, rejecting any foreign-imposed rule.
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The “Day After” Plan: The next phase of Trump’s framework proposes an international body, led by Trump and including former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, to oversee Gaza’s administration. This is a point of fierce contention, with Hamas and many Palestinians viewing it as a form of neo-colonial oversight.
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The Palestinian Statehood Impasse: Key Arab nations supporting the deal, such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Jordan, have insisted it must lead to the eventual establishment of an independent Palestinian state. Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government remains adamantly opposed to this outcome, creating a fundamental contradiction that has doomed previous peace efforts.
As the initial euphoria subsides, the monumental challenges of rebuilding Gaza, reconciling Palestinian political factions, and addressing the core issues of the decades-long conflict remain. For now, the people of Israel and Gaza cling to a fragile hope for the return of their loved ones and a pause in the violence, aware that the path to a lasting peace is more complex and fraught than ever.
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