The first step of a ceasefire proposal, which calls for the release of all hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli forces to a predetermined line in Gaza, has been agreed to by Israel and Hamas.
This is the biggest move yet to put an end to the two-year conflict.
In a post published late on Wednesday, US President Donald Trump made the announcement.
While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was getting ready to meet with Trump in Washington last week, the White House unveiled the 20-point plan for peace in Gaza.
The plan called for the immediate cessation of military operations and the 72-hour release of all hostages.
“I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan,” Trump said, adding that all parties will be treated fairly.
According to Trump, hostages would probably be freed on Monday as part of the ceasefire agreement’s initial phase.
Additionally, the president stated that his government is “forming a council of peace” in order to sustain a long-term resolution to the regional dispute.
He had earlier unveiled a 20-point proposal that called for the creation of a “Board of Peace” composed of world leaders to guarantee that Hamas would not have any authority in Gaza.
Instead, the enclave would be governed by a “technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee” and a “board of peace”.
However, Trump made no mention of upcoming Gaza governance difficulties when he announced the agreement on Truth Social.
According to Hamas, lists of Palestinian detainees who will be freed as part of the ceasefire agreement have been sent to Israel.
Leaders from around the world, including Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters, have applauded the agreement.
Israel has so far insisted that Hamas surrender its weapons, a demand that Hamas has so far declined to address.
Additionally, Hamas has demanded guarantees of a full withdrawal by Israeli soldiers as well as a precise date for the evacuation.
At Trump’s request, Israel has scaled back its military operation in Gaza, but it hasn’t completely stopped strikes.
Meanwhile, Hamas has rejected discussions on foreign rule over Gaza in the future.
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