Israel and the radical Islamic Hamas had been holding indirect talks in Egypt since Monday about a ceasefire in the Gaza war. On Thursday night, Trump announced the breakthrough in the negotiations. According to an Israeli government spokeswoman, the agreement was signed in Egypt this morning.
People in both the Gaza Strip and Israel reacted with happiness and relief. “We pray to God that the war will end this time,” said Ayman al-Najar from Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip. “We have been waiting for this day for 734 days,” said Laurence Jitzchak from Tel Aviv.
Two years after the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, 47 hostages are still held by Hamas. According to Israeli information, 25 of them are already dead. According to information from Hamas circles, 20 living hostages are to be released in the first phase of the ceasefire agreement and, in return, almost 2,000 Palestinians are to be released from Israeli custody.
It is still unclear when exactly the hostages will be released. According to Hamas and Israel, the release should take place within 72 hours of the agreement coming into force. According to Israeli sources, the ceasefire is expected to come into force within 24 hours of formal approval by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet, which was expected on Thursday evening. Then the 72-hour period for the release of the hostages should begin.
Trump initially said he expected “all” hostages to be handed over on Monday. This also included the remains of the dead. He later said the hostages would be released “Monday or Tuesday.” According to the Israeli presidential office, Trump is expected in Israel on Sunday. Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff also announced that the US President would visit Egypt next week. Trump himself said he would “try” to travel to Egypt.
The agreement “ended the war in the Gaza Strip,” Trump said. Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said the agreement could lead to an “end to this war.” Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the agreement could be the “prelude to a lasting political solution.”
According to Hamas, it was also agreed that at least 400 trucks carrying aid supplies would enter the Gaza Strip every day for the first five days of the ceasefire. According to the aid organization Egyptian Red Crescent, more than 150 trucks set off on Thursday.
The Israeli army said it had begun “operational preparations for the implementation of the agreement” to withdraw its soldiers to an agreed line. According to the Hamas authorities in the Gaza Strip, Israel carried out several more attacks on the Palestinian territory that night after the agreement was announced.
According to information from Hamas circles, negotiations on the second phase of the ceasefire should begin “immediately.” Some sticking points are still open: Trump’s 20-point plan includes, among other things, the disarmament and political disempowerment of Hamas as well as a transitional government for the Gaza Strip, which will be overseen by an international body headed by Trump.
Despite the many open questions, the agreement was unanimously welcomed internationally. Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) said the development was “courageous”. It is now important that the hostages are released as agreed and that “Israel then partially withdraws militarily from the Gaza Strip.” UN Secretary-General António Guterres also called on everyone involved to stick to the agreement. “The fighting must end once and for all,” he demanded. Federal Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) promised German help for hospitals in the Gaza Strip.
The war in the Gaza Strip was triggered by the attack on Israel by Hamas fighters and allied Islamists on October 7, 2023. According to Israeli information, more than 1,200 people were killed. 251 people were abducted to the Gaza Strip.
Since then, Israel has taken massive military action in the Gaza Strip. According to the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health, which cannot be independently verified, more than 67,180 people were killed. The humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territory is catastrophic.
