Jerusalem – Israel and Hamas have reached a four-day truce in the devastating war in Gaza, along with the release of hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. The agreement, announced by Qatar, marks a significant diplomatic breakthrough since Hamas launched an attack into southern Israel on October 7, igniting a war that has caused widespread destruction in Gaza and raised concerns of a wider conflict in the Middle East.
Under the truce, 50 hostages will be released in stages in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners. Women and children will be released first, and humanitarian aid will be increased to the besieged territory. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that Israel will resume the war after the truce and continue fighting until all their goals, including the defeat of Hamas, are achieved.
The truce comes after weeks of negotiations mediated by Qatar, the United States, and Egypt. President Joe Biden welcomed the deal and expressed support for the release of hostages and the provision of humanitarian aid to Gaza. Qatar’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, expressed hope that the agreement would lead to a permanent ceasefire and serious talks on resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The war has resulted in massive destruction in Gaza, with over 11,000 Palestinians killed and severe shortages of food, medicine, and other essentials. Israel has faced international criticism but has vowed to continue until Hamas is destroyed and all hostages are freed.
The return of hostages is expected to bring relief to their families in Israel. However, the structure of the deal may limit Israel’s ability to press its offensive. Hamas will have a chance to regroup and Israeli troops and tanks are expected to remain in place.
The truce is seen as a significant step towards resolving the conflict, but the situation remains fragile, and the full extent of the devastation in Gaza is yet to be known.
