Cairo: After two years of ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, the situation in Gaza has become dire. The deaths of thousands and the displacement of millions have left Gaza completely devastated, with starvation still at its peak. Amid days of ceasefire efforts, positive news has emerged: the first stage of a ceasefire in the ongoing war has finally been settled.
This agreement was reached during talks in Cairo, based on US President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan. According to media reports, official documents for this historic agreement are set to be signed on Thursday in the Egyptian capital, Cairo. Subsequently, US President Donald Trump will travel to Israel and Egypt this week.
What does the first stage of the ceasefire include?
Under the first phase of this ceasefire, Hamas will release 48 Israeli citizens taken captive after the October 7, 2023, attack. However, only about 20 of them are expected to be alive. In exchange, Israel will release hundreds of Palestinians, including women, children, and prisoners serving life sentences.
Based on previous agreements, at least 100 Palestinians will be released for every Israeli hostage. Furthermore, under the agreement, all military activities—such as airstrikes and artillery shelling—will be halted until both parties agree to the terms of a complete ceasefire, and the military will remain in place.
What did the White House say?
According to the White House, once all hostages are released, Israel will free 250 Palestinians serving life sentences and 1,700 Gazans detained after the Hamas attack. Additionally, for each deceased Israeli hostage, Israel will return the bodies of 15 deceased Gazans.
Under Trump’s plan, all hostages, whether alive or deceased, are to be released within 72 hours of the agreement being publicly accepted. Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that relief supplies and essential aid will also be delivered to Gaza in this first stage, where famine-like conditions persist.
Trump says, “This is a historic day”
US President Donald Trump hailed this ceasefire as historic in a post on social media platform X. Sharing a post on Truth Social, he said this is a great day for Arab, Muslim nations, Israel, all neighboring countries, and the United States. He expressed thanks to the mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey.
A look back at the Gaza war
It is noteworthy that the conflict in Gaza began two years ago on October 7, 2023, with Hamas’s attack on Israel, in which approximately 1,200 people were killed and 250 were taken hostage. Subsequently, when Israel began its counter-attacks, the devastation in Gaza reached extreme levels.
Israel first declared a complete siege on Gaza and a state of war, then began its attacks. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, a total of 67,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict so far, a large number of whom are women and children. The United Nations has confirmed the humanitarian crisis and famine conditions in Gaza.
