In yet another positive turn of events amid the continuing war between Israel and Hamas, former President Donald Trump told us all the great news. Both sides have accepted the first phase of his 20-point peace plan! As hopes for a ceasefire continue to grow in Gaza, we have seen growing calls for emergency humanitarian relief. The inaugural phase of the agreement is set to be formally signed on Thursday in Egypt.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres applauded the announcement. He called on all three parties to implement the Gaza agreement in its entirety. His chilling call for compliance with public security underscores the tenuous state of the truce. It further highlights the continuing need for enduring peace to take root in the region.
The ceasefire agreement includes a critical exchange: Hamas will release 20 living hostages in return for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. That exchange must occur within 72 hours after the agreement enters into force. It’s likely, at least some time this weekend, that Hamas will release every last one of the remaining hostages. They will exchange the hostages with 250 Palestinians who are serving life sentences. In addition, the release of over 1,700 others arrested by Israel since the war started will be released.
Retreating President Trump might be overly hopeful about the progress of the Gaza ceasefire talks. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan may visit the region this weekend to encourage further action. He stated, “All of the hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their troops to an agreed upon line.” His statements represent a crucial step in the direction of building peace in an area that has suffered from numerous conflicts.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was similarly thankful for Trump’s involvement in brokering the agreement. He greeted the announcement with great enthusiasm, saying, “I thank President Trump and his team for their steadfast dedication to this holy mission. Their heroic work to get our hostages released is worth celebrating. As a final effort to cement the pact, Netanyahu intends to bring together the Israeli government in order to vote in favor of the peace agreement.
This agreement may be the most important on-the-ground agreement you’ve never heard of. Marco Rubio, a prominent U.S. Senator, handed Trump a note suggesting that a Gaza deal was “very close,” indicating that key political figures support the efforts toward peace. This isolationist sentiment is thin ice—just ask Trump, who bragged that his first conversation with Netanyahu—“My conversation with Bibi was great. He is happy – and rightfully so. This is a big achievement. The entire international community came together to achieve this breakthrough, including countries who were once bitter rivals.
During the first stage of the ceasefire, the Israeli army would reportedly withdraw from most of Gaza. This momentous withdrawal is a monumental step in the peace process. This withdrawal, whether intentional or not, represents an important step in lowering tensions and creating space for a climate more favorable to future negotiations to proceed.