A ceasefire agreement has been reached to end 15 months of conflict in the Gaza Strip, according to Hamas, Israeli officials, and a source familiar with the negotiations, as reported on Wednesday.
The hard-fought deal also includes the release of dozens of hostages held in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody. This marks a significant development since the expiration of a previous weeklong truce on December 1, 2023.
Brokered by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt, the agreement comes amid a devastating winter for Gaza’s civilians and significant geopolitical shifts in the Middle East. These include setbacks for Iran, a long-standing adversary of Israel.
While Israel and Hamas have not formally announced the deal, senior Hamas official Basem Naim confirmed the agreement. “We are pleased to have reached a deal to halt the aggression against our people, though this same deal could have been achieved last May,” Naim stated.
According to the agreement, Israel will pull its forces back from densely populated areas in Gaza. In return, Hamas will release 33 hostages, while Israel will free 100 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences. Additionally, 1,000 Palestinian detainees uninvolved in the October 7 attacks will be released, with some prisoners set to be relocated abroad or to Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office described Hamas’ acceptance of the deal as a compromise. However, unresolved issues remain, with final details expected to be confirmed soon.
The ceasefire could take effect as early as Friday, pending approvals from Israel’s security cabinet, the full cabinet, and its Supreme Court, which allows for a 24-hour appeals process.
This agreement follows Israel’s military campaign in Gaza after Hamas’ October 7 attacks, which killed 1,200 people and led to the capture of 250 hostages. In November 2023, 100 hostages were released during a temporary ceasefire in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners. The conflict has devastated Gaza’s infrastructure, displacing most of its population. Health officials report that over 46,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed.
International criticism of Israel’s offensive has intensified, with the International Criminal Court issuing a warrant against Netanyahu for alleged war crimes. Humanitarian organizations, including Amnesty International, have accused Israel of genocide, claims Israel has denied as baseless and antisemitic.
Domestically, Israeli society remains divided, with pressure mounting from families of hostages to reach a deal, while some officials oppose the agreement, labeling it a concession. Despite these tensions, the ceasefire offers a rare moment of hope amid a prolonged and brutal conflict.
