After over a year of devastating conflict, Israel and Hamas have reached a deal to implement a ceasefire in Gaza. The agreement, brokered with the help of Qatar and the United States, includes a pause in fighting, the release of hostages held by Hamas, and the release of Palestinian detainees held by Israel. While the deal marks a critical turning point, the details and timeline remain uncertain, with the ceasefire set to begin on Sunday.
U.S. President Joe Biden confirmed the agreement, emphasizing its significance in reducing the violence and enabling aid delivery to Palestinians in Gaza. Biden described the deal as part of a broader effort to pursue a “permanent end to the war,” acknowledging the painstaking diplomacy required to reach this moment. Meanwhile, incoming President Donald Trump also claimed credit for the breakthrough, attributing the success to his administration’s hardline approach and the efforts of his newly appointed Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff.
The conflict, which began with a Hamas attack on southern Israel in October 2023, has claimed the lives of over 46,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s health ministry. Israel has reported more than 1,200 fatalities, with dozens of its citizens and foreign nationals taken hostage during the attack. Recent estimates suggest that 94 hostages remain in Hamas custody, with 34 presumed dead.
Despite Wednesday’s announcement, fighting persisted. Reports from Gaza’s Hamas-run Civil Defense agency indicated that Israeli airstrikes killed over 20 people that day. Still, international aid agencies have expressed cautious optimism, preparing to scale up operations during the ceasefire. The U.S. has pledged to send over 500 aid trucks daily to Gaza.
Political tensions have also surfaced, with Biden’s team working closely with Trump’s incoming administration to ensure continuity in the deal’s implementation. Analysts see the bipartisan cooperation as a rare moment of unity in U.S. foreign policy, with both leaders pressuring Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to finalize the agreement. Critics, however, remain skeptical about whether the truce will lead to lasting peace in the region.
For now, the focus is on immediate humanitarian relief and the safe return of hostages. But the path forward remains fraught, as both sides grapple with deep-seated grievances and the looming question of whether this ceasefire can truly mark the beginning of the end to the conflict.
