Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire and hostage exchange deal that will see hostages held in Gaza released in exchange for thousands of Palestinian prisoners detained in Israel.
The breakthrough was reached after days of indirect talks mediated in Egypt.
Hostage and Prisoner Releases
According to Israeli government spokeswoman Shosh Bedrosian, the ceasefire will take effect within 24 hours of Israel’s security cabinet meeting, scheduled for Thursday at 1400 GMT, where the agreement is expected to be approved.
“All of our hostages, the living and the deceased, will be released 72 hours later, which will bring us to Monday,” she stated.
Of the 251 people abducted during Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack, 47 remain in Gaza, 25 of whom the Israeli military says are dead. In return, Israel will release nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including 250 serving life sentences and 1,700 others detained since the start of the war, according to a senior Hamas official who spoke to AFP.
Prisoner Lists
One of the main sticking points during negotiations was Hamas’s list of Palestinian prisoners it wanted released. Among them was Marwan Barghouti, a senior Fatah leader serving multiple life sentences since 2004. However, Israel made it clear Barghouti would not be part of the exchange.
Often referred to by supporters as the “Palestinian Mandela”, Barghouti remains one of the most popular figures in Palestinian politics.
Humanitarian Aid and Return of Displaced Persons
Under the agreement, a minimum of 400 aid trucks will be allowed into Gaza daily during the first five days of the ceasefire, with numbers expected to increase later. The Egyptian Red Crescent confirmed that an initial 153 trucks were already en route through the Rafah crossing.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the organisation is ready to scale up efforts to address Gaza’s critical health needs. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) also described the deal as a “huge relief” and pledged to deliver much-needed food and supplies.
The deal also allows for the return of displaced persons from southern Gaza to northern areas and Gaza City.
Military Redeployment and Guarantees
Israel announced that the IDF would redeploy to a designated “yellow line” within 24 hours of the cabinet’s approval. The agreement also includes “scheduled withdrawals” of Israeli troops and reported guarantees from President Donald Trump and other mediators.
Unresolved Issues and Next Steps
The deal is based on Trump’s 20-point peace plan, which calls for Hamas’s disarmament and the establishment of a transitional authority led by Trump in post-war Gaza, details that remain under discussion.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas expressed hope that the agreement could pave the way for an independent Palestinian state, though Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and several cabinet members have rejected that possibility.
Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has already vowed not to support the deal.
Negotiations for the second phase of the ceasefire are expected to begin immediately, with talks in Egypt’s Sharm El-Sheikh continuing under tight security. Footage aired by Al-Qahera News showed delegates from Hamas, Turkey, Qatar, Egypt, and the United States celebrating the breakthrough, though Hamas and Israeli teams remained in separate rooms throughout.
What you should know
The ceasefire deal marks a crucial turning point in the nearly two-year Gaza conflict.
It promises the largest exchange of prisoners and hostages since the war began, while also opening the door to renewed diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving a lasting peace in the region.
