Israel and Hamas agree on a ceasefire in Gaza

Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire in Gaza after more than a year of Israeli offensive, as announced by newly-elected US President Donald Trump, although this has also been confirmed by sources from both negotiating teams cited by Reuters.

According to the first details that have emerged so far, the pact envisages Hamas releasing 33 hostages in an initial phase of six weeks. In this first phase, the parties would also have agreed on the gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops from the southern city of Rafah, bordering Egypt.

In the second and third phases, Israel and Hamas would negotiate the departure of troops from the Philadelphia corridor, the 14-kilometer strip on the border between Gaza and Egypt.

“We have an agreement for the hostages in the Middle East. They will be released soon. Thank you Trump, who will come to power on Monday, January 20,” he declared on his Truth Social network.

Outgoing United States President Joe Biden, who plans to deliver a message to the nation from the Oval Office of the White House this evening, has not yet commented on the matter.

Trump had promised to put Hamas through “hell” if he did not release the hostages before his inauguration. Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, attended the final part of the negotiations.

Contacts had accelerated in recent days and major mediators such as the United States and Qatar had already confirmed a rapprochement. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced shortly before the final announcement that he was cutting short his tour of Europe to participate in executive deliberations and votes.

More than 46,700 people have been killed in Gaza as a result of the military offensive by Israeli forces following the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023. About 240 people have been kidnapped in these attacks, of which about 100 remain in the Gaza Strip.

“A painful deal” for Israel

Although the ceasefire has not been officially declared by the parties involved in the negotiations, Israeli Foreign Minister Guideon Saar has already spoken openly about it and indicated that the agreement reached is “painful” because Tel Aviv will must release. dangerous terrorists and murderers” in exchange for the release of the hostages still in Gaza.

“It is a very difficult and painful agreement, but it is very important for us that our men, our people, are freed from captivity,” Saar said during his stay in Italy in an interview in the ‘Cinque Minuti’ program of the public Rai channel.

After touring Italy, Saar was due to go to Hungary to continue his tour of Europe, but he has announced that he is canceling the trip to return to Israel “following progress in negotiations” on the ceasefire with Hamas.