By Raza Ruman
Hamas and Israel signed an agreement on Thursday to cease fire and free Israeli captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, in the first phase of United States President Donald Trump’s initiative to end the conflict in Gaza — Trump called it purely his own “peace initiative” and hinted at brokering peace between Russia and Ukraine very soon.
“Officials on both sides confirmed they had signed the deal following indirect talks in the Egyptian beach resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. The deal’s announcement had been greeted with celebrations among Palestinians and Israelis alike,” Reuters reported.
The deal includes — release of captives and prisoners as well as a surge of aid into Gaza – after more than two years of genocide after Tel Aviv started bombing the Palestinian enclave following Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel.
“Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the ceasefire would take effect once the agreement is ratified by his government, which would convene after a security cabinet meeting today.”
The ceasefire would go into force within 24 hours of the cabinet meeting. After that 24-hour period, the captives held in Gaza will be freed within 72 hours, she said.
Israeli troops would begin pulling back within 24 hours of the deal being signed.
An Israeli official said all 20 Israeli captives still believed to be alive in Gaza after being seized by Hamas would be released.
Hamas disarmament certain?
Trump told media that disarmament would be part of the second phase of a Gaza deal, with Israel insisting that Hamas must give up its weapons.
“I’m not going to talk about that because you sort of know what phase two is. But … there will be disarming,” Trump told reporters at a cabinet meeting, adding that there would also be “pullbacks” by Israeli forces.
He said he had no view regarding the possibility of a two-state solution, and he would follow whatever was ultimately agreed on.
“I don’t have a view. I’m going to go with what they agreed to,” he told reporters. On what Palestinians can expect, he added: “We’re going to create something where people can live … We’re going to create better conditions for people.“
He said that the Gaza captives should be released on Monday or Tuesday and that he hopes to attend a signing ceremony in Egypt. Trump said he believed it would lead to “lasting peace”. “We are getting the hostages back on Tuesday, Monday, or Tuesday, and that’ll be a day of joy,” Trump said.
Trump said under the plan that Gaza is going to be “slowly redone”, a reference to plans to rebuild the Palestinian enclave. He did not provide details.
While questions remain about what happens in the region in the long term, Trump said he hoped it would lead to “an everlasting peace”.
Hamas will exchange 20 living captives for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners
Trump did not thank Pakistan
Trump thanks mediators Qatar, Egypt, and Turkiye; earlier said he may travel to Middle East this week as a deal was “very close”; says he thinks captives will probably be released on Monday
Hamas would release all captives while Israel would pull its troops back to an agreed on line, Trump had said after talks in Egypt on his 20-point peace plan that resulted in a deal.
Qatar had said the deal was the “first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, which will lead to ending the war, the release of Israeli captives and Palestinian prisoners, and the entry of aid”.
Hamas will exchange 20 living captives for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners as part of the first phase of a deal, a source within the group told AFP.
The exchange will take place within 72 hours of the implementation of the agreement, which is expected to be signed on Thursday, the source familiar with the negotiations said.
The captives will be released in exchange for 250 Palestinians sentenced to life imprisonment and 1,700 others arrested by Israel since the war began.
“The Israeli military said that Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir instructed forces to prepare strong defenses and be ready for any scenario and to prepare to lead the operation for the captives’ return with sensitivity and professionalism, following the announcement of the Gaza ceasefire agreement,” the agency reported.
“I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first phase of our Peace Plan,” Trump said.
“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.”
