The peace deal between Israel and Hamas is set to end months of deadly conflict as hostages and prisoners are released from both sides – but it still faces a few hurdles
Palestinians celebrate in streets after Gaza ceasefire agreement
Israel and Hamas have agreed to a historic peace deal – potentially ending months of terrible conflict that has left tens of thousands dead.
The three-phase ceasefire deal promises the release of dozens of hostages held by militants in Gaza and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israel, and would allow hundreds of thousands of people displaced in Gaza to return to their homes. It would also allow desperately needed humanitarian aid into the territory after 15 long months of war.
US President Joe Biden hailed the deal last night and said he was “thrilled” that all hostages could soon be freed – but it still needs to be approved by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his cabinet, who have already accused Hamas of backsliding. Donald Trump has meanwhile claimed that the “epic” agreement was only possible because he won November’s presidential election.
What’s in the deal?
There are three phases to the deal, which was negotiated by the United States, Egypt, Qatar, Israel and Hamas to allow both sides to work gradually towards a complete halt to fighting. Phase one, which will begin on Sunday according to mediator Qatar, would bring about a six-week halt to hostilities, opening negotiations on ending the war.
A total of 33 of the nearly 100 Israeli hostages held by Hamas would be released over that period, although it’s not clear if more than half are alive. The US says this phase also includes a withdrawal of Israeli forces from densely populated areas of Gaza, allowing people to return to their homes.
Humanitarian assistance would also increase, with hundreds of trucks entering Gaza each day. Hundreds of Palestinian prisoners will also be freed, though the details of this are yet to be finalised.
Phase two will begin on day 16 of the ceasefire, including the release of all remaining living hostages and male soldiers. Israeli forces would withdraw from the Gaza Strip. This phase is more likely to run into issues however, as Israel has said it will not agree to a complete withdrawal until Hamas’ military and political capabilities are eliminated. Hamas has also said it will not hand over the last hostages until Israel removes all its troops.
Finally, phase three calls for the return of the remaining bodies of hostages still in Gaza. It also promises the start of a major reconstruction effort in Gaza, which faces decades of rebuilding. It’s not currently clear who will pay towards this.
Will it last?
That depends on whether both sides choose to stick to the deal the whole way through – and negotiations will be ongoing through all three phases. Israel and Hamas both claim they want a permanent end to the war, but will face internal and external political pressures if either side is accused of backsliding. Already on Thursday, Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hamas of trying to “extort last-minute concessions” and said his cabinet would not convene to confirm the deal until he had confirmation that they accepted all terms.
What has Joe Biden said?
U.S. President Joe Biden announced the new ceasefire deal at the White House last night, saying it would stay in place as long as Israel and Hamas remain at the negotiating table over a long-term truce. Biden credited months of “dogged and painstaking American diplomacy” for landing the deal, saying that his administration and President-elect Donald Trump’s team had been “speaking as one” during the most recent stage of negotiations.
What about Donald Trump?
Mr Trump, who returns to the White House in just four days’ time, has claimed the deal only happened because he won the election in November. He wrote of his victory on his Truth Social network: “It signalled to the entire World that my Administration would seek Peace and negotiate deals to ensure the safety of all Americans, and our Allies.”
Some commentators have admitted there may have been a ‘Trump effect’ on the talks, with the 78-year-old’s unpredictable approach to foreign policy forcing multiple parties in the Middle East to the negotiating table before he takes over. Trump had previously threatened that “all hell will break loose” if Israeli hostages were not released by the time of his inauguration. Asked whether Trump could take credit for the deal after his speech on Wednesday night, Joe Biden said: “Is that a joke?”
What has Keir Starmer said?
A statement from the office of Prime Minister Keir Starmer last night said: “After months of devastating bloodshed and countless lives lost, this is the long-overdue news that the Israeli and Palestinian people have desperately been waiting for. They have borne the brunt of this conflict – triggered by the brutal terrorists of Hamas, who committed the deadliest massacre of Jewish people since the Holocaust on October 7th, 2023.
“The hostages, who were brutally ripped from their homes on that day and held captive in unimaginable conditions ever since, can now finally return to their families. But we should also use this moment to pay tribute to those who won’t make it home – including the British people who were murdered by Hamas. We will continue to mourn and remember them.
“For the innocent Palestinians whose homes turned into a warzone overnight and the many who have lost their lives, this ceasefire must allow for a huge surge in humanitarian aid, which is so desperately needed to end the suffering in Gaza. And then our attention must turn to how we secure a permanently better future for the Israeli and Palestinian people – grounded in a two-state solution that will guarantee security and stability for Israel, alongside a sovereign and viable Palestine state. The UK and its allies will continue to be at the forefront of these crucial efforts to break the cycle of violence and secure long-term peace in the Middle East.”
