Israel and Hamas have reportedly reached a tentative agreement to halt hostilities in Gaza, paving the way for an exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners. This significant development was confirmed by three U.S. officials and a Hamas representative, as reported by the Associated Press. The deal, which seeks to address the ongoing conflict in Gaza, emerged from separate negotiations held by Qatar’s Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, with both Hamas and Israeli delegates.
The initial phase of the agreement includes a six-week ceasefire and a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. It also entails the release of hostages held by Hamas and Palestinian detainees in Israeli custody. The Israeli security cabinet is scheduled to convene at 11 a.m. local time (0900 GMT) on Thursday to approve the proposed ceasefire and hostage release arrangement.
A U.S. official indicated that the ceasefire is expected to be implemented in the coming days. However, tensions remain high as Hamas has expressed concerns regarding arrangements for the Philadelphi corridor, a strategic area along Gaza's border with Egypt. Despite these challenges, the deal promises to deliver much-needed humanitarian aid to the suffering Palestinian population.
The Israeli foreign ministry has issued a statement indicating that the deal is not yet finalized. Meanwhile, a Hamas official confirmed that the organization has communicated its approval of the ceasefire agreement to Qatari and Egyptian mediators.
In related developments, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, emphasized the importance of transitional justice in the region, stating:
"Transitional justice is crucial as Syria moves forward."
Additionally, Türk underlined the need for peace, warning:
"Revenge and vengeance are never the answer."
As political leaders prepare for decisive discussions, the Israeli government will conduct a vote on the ceasefire proposal on Thursday, according to a government source cited by Reuters. Nonetheless, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and his Otzma Yehudit party have already voiced their opposition to the agreement.
The unfolding diplomatic efforts coincide with Republican Senator John Cornyn acknowledging President-elect Donald Trump’s role in facilitating the ceasefire. Cornyn attributed this breakthrough to Trump's assertive stance, remarking:
"I don’t believe in coincidences. So I do believe that President Trump had an impact on this deal."
Trump himself took to Truth Social to celebrate the ceasefire as an "epic" achievement, attributing it to his recent election victory and promising further successes:
"We have achieved so much without even being in the White House. Just imagine all of the wonderful things that will happen when I return to the White House, and my Administration is fully confirmed, so they can secure more Victories for the United States!"
Despite these declarations, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office maintained that Hamas has not yet formally responded to the deal:
"Contrary to reports, the Hamas terror organisation has not yet returned its response to the deal."
The situation remains fluid as involved parties navigate complex political and strategic considerations. Meanwhile, an incident involving an Israeli drone attack on a military convoy in Syria has added another layer of tension to regional dynamics. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported:
"An Israeli drone launched an attack targeting a military convoy … killing two members of the military operations department, and injuring another person."
Amid these developments, Mohammad Mustafa articulated a clear stance regarding the governance of Gaza:
"It will not be acceptable for any entity other than the Palestinian Authority to run the Gaza Strip in the future."