A Small Sliver of Peace

Israel and Hamas reached a long-awaited ceasefire agreement Wednesday that will temporarily halt more than 15 months of brutal conflict in the Gaza Strip, a move that will facilitate the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and allow critical humanitarian aid to reach displaced civilians, ABC News reported.

The breakthrough came after months of negotiations in the Qatari capital Doha brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States.

Set to begin Sunday, the first phase of the agreement includes a six-week ceasefire, during which Hamas will release 33 hostages, including women, children, and the elderly, in exchange for Israel freeing around 1,000 Palestinian prisoners.

Mediators confirmed that humanitarian aid will flow into Gaza during this period and displaced Palestinians will be allowed to return to northern areas of the enclave, most of which lies in ruin.

The deal also requires the withdrawal of Israeli forces from populated areas in Gaza.

However, Israel’s presence in key strategic zones, such as the Philadelphi Corridor along the Gaza-Egypt border, will be discussed in later negotiations. Mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and the US will monitor the implementation of the ceasefire to ensure compliance from both sides.

The second phase of the agreement will focus on the release of remaining hostages and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces, while the third phase will address the return of the remains of deceased hostages and the reconstruction of Gaza. The United Nations has pledged to support rebuilding efforts and expand humanitarian relief for Gaza.

The conflict began on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas and its allies launched an attack on southern Israel that left about 1,200 people dead and saw around 250 others kidnapped. Israel’s response resulted in a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with more than 46,000 Palestinians killed to date, according to Gazan health officials.

Israel confirmed that 405 soldiers died during the war.

As news of the agreement spread on Wednesday, celebrations erupted across Gaza and Israel, with families of hostages and displaced Palestinians expressing relief and disbelief, wrote CBS News.

US President Joe Biden hailed the deal as a significant diplomatic achievement, emphasizing its potential to reunite families and alleviate Gaza’s humanitarian crisis. Biden also confirmed that Americans are among the hostages set to be released in the first phase.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in a statement that the last details were still being ironed out and that it hoped they “will be finalized tonight” And that he would comment on the deal when it was “sealed.”

Hints of obstacles remaining came early Thursday when Netanyahu said Hamas’ insistence on determining which Palestinian prisoners would be released was backtracking on the deal, the Associated Press reported, while the newswire listed praise from governments and aid agencies worldwide for the agreement.

Netanyahu’s reticence may be connected to domestic politics: His governing coalition depends on the support of two hardline factions whose leaders have threatened to quit the government over the planned release of Palestinian prisoners and only the partial release of the hostages. Although opposition leaders have vowed to support the ceasefire deal, the loss of his allies could lead to the collapse of the coalition and trigger early elections.

Meanwhile, Hamas said in a statement that the ceasefire was “the result of the legendary resilience of our great Palestinian people and our valiant resistance in the Gaza Strip.”