Israelis and Palestinians celebrated on Thursday after a ceasefire and hostage-release agreement was reached under the first phase of U.S. President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan to end the devastating Gaza war that has claimed more than 67,000 lives and reshaped the Middle East.
The breakthrough came during indirect talks in Egypt, just a day after the second anniversary of Hamas’s October 7, 2023, cross-border assault that triggered Israel’s extensive military campaign in Gaza.
If fully implemented, the deal could mark the closest step yet toward halting a conflict that has expanded into a broader regional confrontation involving Iran, Lebanon, and Yemen.
Celebrations erupted across Israel and Gaza as news of the deal spread. In Tel Aviv, families of hostages released fireworks and gathered in Hostages Square, while in Gaza, residents cheered and prayed in gratitude.
“Thank God for the ceasefire, the end of bloodshed and killing,” said Abdul Majeed Abd Rabbo from Khan Younis. “All of Gaza, all the Arab people, all the world are happy.”
Announcing the agreement late Wednesday, President Trump said both Israel and Hamas had approved the first stage of the plan.
“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,” he declared on Truth Social. The deal, he said, would mark a major diplomatic victory for his administration.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed he would seek government approval for the agreement, calling it a “diplomatic success and a moral victory” that would ensure “all our hostages are brought home.”
Hamas also confirmed the deal, saying it included an Israeli withdrawal and a hostage-prisoner exchange. “The sacrifices of our people will not be in vain,” the group said in a statement.
According to Israeli officials, Hamas abducted 251 people in the 2023 attack, killing around 1,200 others. Of the remaining 48 hostages, 20 are believed to be alive.
A Hamas source said living hostages would be freed within 72 hours of Israel’s formal approval, while recovery of bodies could take longer. Trump told Fox News that the releases were expected by Monday.
Despite widespread jubilation, key issues remain unresolved, including the future governance of Gaza, the disarmament of Hamas, and guarantees for Palestinian statehood.
Arab states supporting Trump’s framework have emphasized that any long-term peace must lead to an independent Palestinian state, an outcome Netanyahu has rejected.
The next phase of Trump’s plan envisions an international body led by the U.S. president and involving former British Prime Minister Tony Blair to oversee Gaza’s post-war transition, a proposal Hamas firmly opposes.
The group insists Gaza should be administered by a technocratic Palestinian government under the supervision of the Palestinian Authority, backed by Arab and Muslim countries.
While oil prices dipped amid optimism over the ceasefire, the region remains on edge. As one Palestinian man in Khan Younis summed up, “These are historic moments, long awaited after two years of killing and destruction. We pray this peace will finally last.”
Source: Reuters
Written By Rodney Mbua
