Israel and Hamas have reached a deal that includes a mutual cease-fire agreement and hostage releases, bringing their 15 months of fighting over ceasefire Gaza to a close. It was brokered by the US, Qatar, and Egypt through a gradual path to hostilities and prisoner exchange.
Details of the Agreement
The agreement is split into three phases:
First Phase: Hamas will declare a 42-day truce and release 33 Israeli hostages, including women, children, the elderly, and the sick. In exchange, Israel will free an equal number of Palestinian detainees, primarily women and children. Also, assistance would be allowed into Gaza, and Israel would begin moving away from the area.
Second Phase: On the 16th day of the truce, negotiations will begin to free the remaining hostages and take out all Israeli troops from Gaza.
The third and final step includes returning the corpses of deceased hostages as well as developing a comprehensive restoration plan for Gaza.
Political Challenges and Delays
Despite the accord, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused Hamas of backtracking on crucial provisions of the pact, causing delays in its acceptance. The office of Netanyahu said the Israeli cabinet would not convene to approve the deal without Hamas’s absolute acceptance of all conditions. That has caused friction within Netanyahu’s coalition government, especially from ultra-reactionary coalition partners opposing the deal. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich from the ultra-reactionary Religious Zionist party labelled the deal as “bad and dangerous” and vowed to quit if it went ahead.
International Reactions
The international reception for the accord is divided. President Joe Biden called the discussions “one of the toughest” he had ever seen, but President-elect Donald Trump, who was part of the mediation process, praised the agreement as a great accomplishment. Trump emphasized the importance of freeing the prisoners before his inauguration on January 20, threatening serious repercussions if the deadline is not reached.
Ongoing Negotiations
So far, the truce has not been implemented, and hostilities continue. Israeli attacks took lives in the ceasefire Gaza, and the situation remains serious. Negotiations are still ongoing, and mediators are working to overcome challenges and confirm the agreement’s text.
The outcome of these discussions will be crucial in judging the future of the region and the chances for a feeling of long-term peace between Israel and Hamas.
