Tel Aviv / Doha/ Washington DC: Israel’s government on Friday approved a U.S.-brokered peace agreement with Hamas that could bring an end to the two-year-old war in Gaza and pave the way for the return of all remaining hostages held by Hamas.
The cabinet vote, which took place after midnight in Jerusalem, came only hours after President Donald Trump and Khalil al-Hayya, Hamas’s chief negotiator, each declared that the war was over.
In a televised statement from Doha, al-Hayya announced that “Israel and Hamas have reached an agreement to end the war,” adding that Washington had provided guarantees to enforce the truce.
At the White House, Trump hailed the deal as “a momentous breakthrough that will bring peace to the Middle East.” He confirmed plans to travel to the region this weekend for a formal signing ceremony and said the exchange of hostages and prisoners would begin “Monday or Tuesday.”
What the Agreement Includes
According to officials, the initial deal covers only the first stage of a broader 20-point peace plan unveiled by the Trump administration last month.
Key provisions already in motion include:
- A full cease-fire between Israeli and Hamas forces.
- Partial withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza to lines that leave Israel in control of roughly 53 percent of the enclave.
- The release of all remaining hostages—about 20 people—alongside the return of bodies of those who died in captivity.
- Freedom for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including 250 serving life sentences, in exchange.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar described the pact as “implementation of the first phase” of a larger peace framework. “We don’t have any intention to renew the war,” he told Fox News.
U.S. and Regional Roles
To coordinate implementation, 200 American troops—mostly planners, logistics and security experts—will operate from a new civil-military coordination center established by U.S. Central Command in Israel.
The Americans will work alongside officers from Egypt, Qatar, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates but, officials emphasized, will not deploy inside Gaza.
The United Nations said it is preparing to send in massive humanitarian aid convoys once the cease-fire is confirmed. Food, medicine and fuel are expected to reach the 2.1 million residents of Gaza, where extreme hunger has taken hold and infrastructure has been largely destroyed.
Lingering Questions
While the truce has reportedly taken effect, some Israeli officials cautioned that “uncertainty remains.”
Government spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian said the cease-fire would begin 24 hours after the vote and that Hamas would then have 72 hours to return all hostages once Israeli forces reposition.
The most contentious issues—who will govern postwar Gaza, whether Hamas will disarm, and how reconstruction will be managed—were left for later stages of negotiation.
Human Cost of the War
The Gaza war began in October 2023, when Hamas fighters stormed southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and seizing roughly 250 hostages.
Since then, Israeli military operations have killed more than 67,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities, while about 1,000 Israeli soldiers have died in combat.
Entire neighborhoods of Gaza have been reduced to rubble, and basic services such as clean water, electricity, and sanitation have collapsed.
Hope—and Caution—Among Gazans
In Gaza City, residents cautiously celebrated news of the truce, gathering around radios and phones for updates.
“We just want to live like normal people again,” said Amal Haddad, a 32-year-old mother in the Shati refugee camp. “If this really brings peace, maybe we can rebuild our homes and our lives.”
Yet for many, tangible relief had not yet arrived. Food, water, and medical supplies remained scarce on Friday, and power outages continued across the enclave.
A Fragile Turning Point
Analysts called the agreement a tentative but significant breakthrough.
It remains uncertain whether the truce will hold or collapse under pressure from hard-liners on both sides.
Still, the deal represents the first time in two years that Israel and Hamas have formally agreed on a roadmap—even a limited one—toward ending hostilities.
For now, weary civilians in both Israel and Gaza are clinging to a simple hope: that this cease-fire might finally mark the end of one of the region’s bloodiest chapters.
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