U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a peace deal.
This first phase will involve the release of remaining hostages, and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza to an “agreed upon line”.
Hamas said this agreement will bring an end to the war.
However, the details of how or when this will happen remain unclear, with the actual details of the agreement not yet released.
Conflict
Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking 240 hostages. The UN says 48 hostages are still captive, about 20 of whom are still alive.
Israel responded by declaring war and bombarding Gaza, which Hamas runs. According to data cited by the UN, Israel has killed more than 66,000 people. Parts of Gaza were declared to be in a state of famine earlier this year.
Last month, a UN human rights committee found Israel is carrying out a genocide of Palestinians in Gaza. Israel denies the allegations.
The deal
Trump announced on Wednesday (local time) that Israel and Hamas had agreed to the “first phase” of a peace plan.
According to Trump, Israel has agreed to withdraw troops from Gaza to an “agreed upon line,” and Hamas has agreed to release all remaining hostages.
Both parties had been negotiating a U.S-led proposal in Egypt this week.
Here are some of the key points that were announced as part of the proposed deal last week:
- “All military operations” will stop and Israeli forces will retreat to an “agreed upon line”.
- Gaza will become “a de-radicalised terror-free zone” that exists in peace with surrounding countries. It will be re-developed, and humanitarian aid will be delivered without contact from Israel or Hamas.
- Members of Hamas who give up their weapons and agree to peace will not be tried, and will be allowed to leave Gaza.
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- Within three days of the Israeli Government confirming its acceptance, Hamas will release all remaining hostages.
- Israel will then release jailed Palestinians, including around 250 on life sentences, and 1,700 people detained after 7 October 2023, “including all women and children detained in that context”.
It’s not clear if some of those details have changed during negotiations.
It’s also not clear which details will be implemented in the first phase, or in subsequent phases.
Hamas comments
Hamas confirmed the agreement in a statement, which it said would bring “an end to the genocidal war against our Palestinian people”.
Hamas called on Trump and other international parties to compel Israel to “fully implement the obligations of the agreement”.
The statement added that the group “values the efforts” of Trump in the negotiations of this agreement.
Israel comments
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the agreement a “diplomatic success” and a “victory for the State of Israel”.
“From the beginning, I made it clear: we will not rest until all our hostages return and all our goals are achieved,” he said.
Netanyahu also thanked Trump for his “unwavering commitment to the safety of Israel”.
What now?
Netanyahu still needs to convene the Israeli cabinet to vote on the deal on Thursday (local time).
Once that is approved, Israel will need to withdraw its troops from Gaza to the agreed-upon line, and Hamas will need to begin releasing hostages.
There are few other details available.
