Deal Announced

Israel and Hamas signed a ceasefire agreement, stopping the war in Gaza and securing the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

Context

President Trump unveiled a comprehensive 20-point peace plan in late September, following months of stalled negotiations. In this breakthrough, Trump has intensified pressure on both sides, warning Hamas last Friday that many more of its fighters would be killed if it did not agree to a deal by Sunday evening. Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law and informal adviser Jared Kushner joined senior negotiators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, where the indirect talks took place.

Agreement Details

Israel and Hamas reached an agreement on Thursday to halt their two-year war in Gaza, with Hamas agreeing to free all remaining Israeli hostages while Israel will release Palestinian prisoners in return.

Under the agreement, fighting will cease and Israel will partially withdraw from Gaza while allowing increased humanitarian aid to flow into the territory. Hamas will release all remaining hostages – approximately 20 believed to be alive and the bodies of about 28 others who died in captivity – within 72 hours of Israel ratifying the deal. In return, Israel will free nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including 250 serving life sentences.

Implementation

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved the agreement with his cabinet in the early hours of Friday morning in Tel Aviv. The ceasefire will take effect 24 hours after the ratification, early Saturday morning. Israeli forces will then withdraw to predetermined lines, according to an Israeli government spokesperson, leaving them in control of approximately 53% of Gaza. Trump indicated the hostages will “probably” be released by Monday and was considering a visit to the region to mark the event.

Celebrations and Questions

The announcement sparked celebrations in both Israel and Gaza, with crowds gathering at Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square and Palestinians celebrating in Khan Younis despite the ongoing devastation.

Many critical issues remain unresolved, including whether Hamas will disarm and who will govern Gaza after the war – issues that negotiators said would be addressed in future talks as part of Trump’s broader peace plan.