Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
A long-awaited ceasefire between Israel and Hamas officially came into effect Thursday evening, bringing a fragile but much-needed pause to nearly a year of intense warfare in the Gaza Strip. The truce, which marks the first phase of a U.S.-brokered agreement, was greeted with widespread international approval and emotional celebrations in Gaza’s war-ravaged neighborhoods.
The agreement includes a major hostage and prisoner exchange and the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from key areas of the enclave. According to sources familiar with the implementation plan, Hamas has begun transferring Israeli hostages to secure locations in preparation for their release.
At the same time, Israel has agreed to release around 2,000 Palestinian detainees, including 250 serving life sentences or long-term convictions, as well as several individuals arrested after the outbreak of war on October 7, 2023.
The truce was confirmed as the Israeli security cabinet convened Thursday afternoon, with a larger government vote expected later in the evening. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly holds a majority to push the agreement through, despite vocal opposition from some far-right members of his coalition.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich declared he would vote against the ceasefire, citing security concerns over releasing high-profile Palestinian prisoners. However, he stopped short of threatening to withdraw his party from the government, preserving the coalition’s fragile unity.
Joy in Gaza, Relief Across the Region
Scenes of cautious celebration broke out across Gaza following the announcement. After two years of destruction, siege, and mass displacement, residents emerged from shelters to mark what many hope will be the beginning of a more lasting peace.
The Palestinian Civil Defense reported continued Israeli airstrikes across various parts of the territory just hours before the ceasefire came into effect, describing a final wave of “intense raids” on Gaza City. But once the truce began, the skies largely fell silent.
Israeli forces are expected to begin a phased withdrawal from areas stretching from Khan Younis in the south to Beit Lahia in the north over the next 24 hours. The so-called “yellow line” a buffer zone where fighting was concentrated will be the first to see troop reductions.
According to Israeli military sources, non-essential operations have already been scaled back, and while “complementary” strikes targeting recent intelligence-based objectives were conducted ahead of the ceasefire, offensive activity has now ceased.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) also announced operational preparations for implementing the deal are underway, while maintaining readiness for “all scenarios,” underscoring the delicate nature of the current pause.
Hostage Release Expected Monday
The release of Israeli hostages is expected within 72 hours of the truce’s activation likely by Monday and will take place quietly, without public ceremonies. U.S. President Donald Trump, who played a central role in the negotiations, said the deal includes the return of all living hostages believed to be in Hamas custody, as well as the gradual repatriation of bodies of those who died in captivity.
“They’re deep underground, but efforts are underway to bring them all back,” Trump said during a televised interview, hailing the agreement as a significant diplomatic victory. “The whole world came together for this.”
The International Committee of the Red Cross is coordinating closely with both sides to oversee the exchange, and mediators from Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and the United States will supervise the delivery and verification process.
Sources told Al Arabiya and Al Hadath that international mediators have received reassurances on the hostages’ condition and are now finalizing logistics for the transfer.
A Fragile Road Ahead
Though welcomed by many, the ceasefire remains vulnerable. Hardliners on both sides have expressed skepticism, and past truces have collapsed under pressure from renewed violence or political fallout.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas endorsed the agreement, emphasizing that the Gaza Strip must return under the full sovereignty of the Palestinian state. He called for international backing to ensure the successful implementation of the truce and further political progress.
“This agreement must be a stepping stone toward ending the occupation and establishing a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital,” Abbas said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian toll of the war remains staggering. Gaza’s Health Ministry reports over 67,000 people killed and nearly 170,000 injured since October 2023. Infrastructure across the strip has been decimated, with hospitals overwhelmed, clean water scarce, and hundreds of thousands displaced.
The Gaza Government Media Office urged civilians to remain cautious and avoid unnecessary travel, especially between the north and south, until an official confirmation of the ceasefire’s stability is issued.
Negotiations in Sharm El-Sheikh
The ceasefire follows intensive indirect negotiations held in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh over recent days, involving delegations from Hamas and Israel, with the participation of U.S., Qatari, Egyptian, and Turkish mediators.
The agreement represents the first implementation phase of a broader peace plan unveiled by Trump in late September. While details of subsequent phases remain unclear, this first step is widely seen as a critical litmus test for whether the broader deal has a chance of succeeding.
As night falls over Gaza, there is, for the first time in many months, a glimmer of hope. After nearly a year of relentless war, the people of Gaza and their counterparts across the region are holding their breath, waiting to see if this fragile ceasefire can become something more enduring.
