Hamas agrees to a ceasefire and will release hostages, paving the way for peace talks in the Middle East
Gaza: So, it looks like Hamas has finally decided to call it quits. They’ve agreed to a ceasefire and are starting to release the hostages they took from Israel 467 days ago. This change comes after they realized they were losing the war they kicked off on October 7.
With the war winding down, the remaining Hamas leaders will have to let go of their control over Gaza. Their harsh rule has left the area in ruins. Hopefully, with help from Arab nations and others, a new government can rise, possibly working with the Palestinian Authority from the West Bank. It’s time for the Palestinians to sit down and negotiate.
The U.S. played a big role in this shift, even though the final call was up to Hamas. The plan they agreed on is pretty much what President Biden laid out back in May. The last few weeks have seen both Biden and Trump working together to make this happen. As Biden said, “There was no other way for this war to end than with a hostage deal.”
Both leaders want some credit for this, but it’s really a shared effort. Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, has been collaborating with Trump’s incoming adviser, Mike Waltz. Secretary of State Tony Blinken has been in talks with Marco Rubio, who just breezed through his confirmation hearing. Meanwhile, in Qatar, Biden’s envoy Brett McGurk and Trump’s new guy Steve Witkoff have been at the negotiations, which are being mediated by Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.
On Sunday, Biden’s last day in office, the guns fell silent as the first hostages were released. With this hostage deal in place, it seems like the end of the war might finally be on the horizon.
Hamas started this conflict on October 7, 2023, with a brutal attack on Israel, leading to horrific violence. Israel’s military response has devastated Gaza, causing immense suffering for the Palestinians living under Hamas.
On that day, over 1,200 Israelis were killed, and 251 were taken back to Gaza. The war that followed has claimed thousands of Palestinian lives, including many Hamas fighters and countless civilians. The loss of innocent lives is tragic, especially since Hamas hid among civilians, using hospitals and schools as shields, which is a war crime.
Among those who died are the Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar and Mohammed Deif, as well as Ismail Haniyeh, who thought he was safe in the Persian Gulf until Israel tracked him down during a visit to Tehran.
The war also led to Hezbollah’s downfall, as they joined the fight against Israel on October 8. Israel’s actions have weakened Hezbollah, allowing Lebanon to finally elect a new president after years of being stalled. The defeat of Hezbollah has also impacted the Assad regime in Syria, as Iran, their main supporter, has been significantly weakened by Israel. Across the Middle East, the bad actors are losing, all because of the war that Hamas started.
Now, with Trump set to take office next week, he’ll have the chance to build on the peace efforts he started with the Abraham Accords.
