Indirect negotiations in Egypt, mediated by the United States, Qatar, and Türkiye, have successfully yielded an agreement on the initial stage of a framework to end the two-year conflict in the Gaza Strip. U.S. President Donald Trump announced late Wednesday that both Israel and Hamas had signed off on the first phase of the plan. The landmark accord, expected to be formally signed at 12 p.m. Jerusalem time, aims to halt the war and facilitate humanitarian relief.
Hamas says it has submitted lists of Palestinian prisoners to Israel “according to the criteria agreed upon in the ceasefire agreement” and is “awaiting final agreement on the names” before announcing them publicly.
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Key Terms and Implementation
The first phase of the agreement includes two critical commitments:
- The release of all remaining hostages held in Gaza.
- Israeli troop withdrawal to an agreed-upon line.
The deal is expected to lead to the immediate and unimpeded entry of desperately needed humanitarian aid into Gaza, where a global hunger monitor reported over half a million people experiencing famine.
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Confirmation from Leaders
President Trump, in a statement, said, “This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops… as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed he would convene his government to approve the agreement, stating his goal was to “bring them all home.” Hamas also confirmed the deal, which includes an Israeli withdrawal and a hostage-prisoner exchange, while calling on guarantor states to ensure full Israeli implementation.
The release of living hostages is anticipated to begin as early as this weekend, with the timeline for prisoner exchanges and the recovery of deceased hostages still being finalized.
The agreement marks the closest effort yet to a durable ceasefire but leaves crucial long-term questions unresolved, including the mechanism for the full Israeli withdrawal and the post-war administration of the Gaza Strip.
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