A cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas aims to release hostages and withdraw troops, marking a significant step towards peace.
Tel Aviv: So, there’s a cease-fire deal that just got inked between Israel and Hamas. It’s a big deal because it could lead to the release of hostages from Gaza and a pullback of Israeli troops.
This is the first time fighting has paused since November 2023, which is a relief for many. But hold on, the deal still needs a thumbs-up from the Israeli cabinet and legislature, which should happen soon.
Now, here’s the scoop on how the three phases are supposed to roll out. First up, the fighting will stop for 42 days. During this time, 33 Israeli hostages will be freed gradually, and in return, hundreds of Palestinians will be released from Israeli prisons.
There are about 97 hostages in total, but only 60 are believed to be alive. On the first day of the cease-fire, which is set for Sunday, Hamas will let go of three hostages, then four more on day seven. After that, there will be weekly releases.
For every civilian hostage freed, Israel will release 30 Palestinian women, children, and elderly prisoners. And for every female Israeli soldier released, Israel will let go of 50 Palestinian prisoners, including some facing life sentences.
In a twist, all Palestinian women and children detained since the war began on October 7, 2023, will be released in exchange for the return of bodies to Israel. Meanwhile, Israeli forces will retreat to a buffer zone, allowing displaced Palestinians to head back home.
During the cease-fire, around 600 trucks of humanitarian aid will flow into Gaza daily, which is a huge help. Negotiations for the second phase will kick off on day 16 of the first phase.
If all goes well, the second phase will see the remaining hostages freed and Israel completely withdrawing from Gaza. But it’s not going to be easy. Israel wants to ensure Hamas is weakened before pulling out, while Hamas insists on a full Israeli withdrawal before releasing the last hostages.
Hamas has hinted it might step back from power, but that’s still up in the air. They want some guarantees for the peace to hold until a deal is struck, but Israel hasn’t agreed to that yet, so there’s still a chance for airstrikes to resume.
Finally, the last phase would involve Hamas trading the remaining hostages for a rebuilding plan for Gaza, which would be supervised internationally. It’s a lot to unpack, but fingers crossed for some peace!
