Huge crowds in Israel and Gaza celebrate ceasefire and hostage release deal | BBC News

Key Concepts

• Ceasefire Agreement: A deal to halt military operations in Gaza.
• Hostage Release: The return of Israeli captives held by Hamas.
• Palestinian Prisoner Release: The freeing of Palestinians from Israeli jails as part of the deal.
• Humanitarian Aid: The provision of essential supplies to Gaza.
• Trump's 20-Point Peace Plan: A comprehensive framework proposed by Donald Trump for the resolution of the conflict and future governance of Gaza.
• Board of Peace: A body, to be headed by Donald Trump, responsible for day-to-day public services in Gaza.
• Good Friday Agreement: A peace accord in Northern Ireland, referenced as a parallel for complex peace negotiations.
• Salience: The importance or prominence of an issue.

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Imminent Ceasefire and Hostage Deal

A ceasefire in Gaza is expected to commence shortly, pending formal approval by Israel's cabinet. This agreement, reached by negotiators in Egypt, aims to secure the return of all remaining hostages and bring a permanent end to the war with Hamas. Hamas has stated it received guarantees from the United States and mediators that the conflict is definitively over.

Key Provisions of the Agreement

The deal includes several critical components:

• Hostage Release: 48 Israeli hostages remaining in Gaza are to be freed, with approximately 20 believed to be alive. They are expected to be released on Monday and Tuesday. The bodies of another 28 deceased hostages are also due to be returned.
• Palestinian Prisoner Release: 2,000 Palestinian prisoners will be freed from Israeli jails.
• Humanitarian Aid: Truckloads of aid, up to 600 trucks per day, will be allowed into Gaza.
• Troop Pullback: Israel will pull its troops back to a designated yellow line within Gaza, though they will remain in the territory.

Reactions and Celebrations

In Israel:

• Jubilation erupted in Tel Aviv's "Hostage Square," the center of the families' campaign, as news of the deal broke.
• Many Israelis expressed relief and joy, with some stating, "We want peace. We want the hostages back. We want to stop the war. We want to really just give us a rest. We want to live."
• However, the mood was mixed with trauma from the October 7th attacks and deep divisions regarding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's leadership. Nimrod Cohen's father, Yehuda, expressed delight but also anger, accusing Netanyahu of prioritizing his political survival and criminal trials over the hostages' return, calling him a "liar."
• Donald Trump was widely credited as the hero for forcing the deal, with American flags and signs thanking him visible at celebrations. Some Israelis, like Jonathan, whose uncle was murdered 30 years ago, expressed concern that releasing "terrorists with blood on their hands" was "kicking the can down the road another 10 years."

In Gaza:

• Tens of thousands of Palestinians, desperate for a ceasefire and an end to Israeli attacks, destruction, and starvation, poured into the streets to celebrate.
• Emergency workers in Gaza City's ruins thanked God.
• Amal, a resident in southern Gaza, shared her relief, stating, "I can't believe I'm finally saying this. The war is over. After 2 years of hunger, destruction, and endless loss, Kaza is finally quiet. I've been dreaming of this moment to tell my boys that you are safe now."
• Despite the joy, there was "incomplete joy" due to immense loss. Amal's brother was among the over 67,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, killed by Israel over the past two years, including an estimated 20,000 children. Yasmin's 4-year-old daughter, Hala, died of malnutrition in August, making the deal "6 weeks too late" for her family.

The Role of Donald Trump and Negotiations

The deal was the result of three days of intense talks in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. The American team was led by Jared Kushner and Steve Witkov, with mediators from Qatar and Egypt shuttling between Israeli and Hamas delegations. Pressure from the US, Arab, and other Muslim countries was crucial.

President Trump announced the breakthrough, calling it a "momentous breakthrough in the Middle East, something that people said was never going to be done. Uh we ended the war in Gaza and really on a much bigger basis created peace and I think it's going to be a lasting peace hopefully an everlasting peace."

Trump's involvement was characterized by a tough approach. He had previously demanded the hostages be returned by January 20th and expressed frustration with Netanyahu's "negativity and intransigence." A critical moment was Israel's bombing strike on the Hamas negotiating team in Qatar on September 9th, which almost derailed the deal. Netanyahu was reportedly forced to apologize to the Qatari leader. Trump's "tough, aggressive bullying demeanor" was seen as instrumental in "railroading" Netanyahu into an agreement that other presidents might not have achieved.

Trump's 20-Point Peace Plan

The approved deal is the first phase of President Trump's broader 20-point peace plan for Gaza. Beyond the initial hostage and prisoner exchange, the plan envisions:

• Israel pulling back troops (though remaining in Gaza).
• Up to 600 aid trucks per day.
• A "Board of Peace" headed by Donald Trump responsible for day-to-day public services in Gaza.

Trump is planning to travel to the Middle East early next week to attend a signing ceremony in Egypt.

Hostage Stories and Trauma

The transcript highlights the personal stories of several hostages:

• Emily Deari: A British-Israeli former hostage, now celebrating.
• GI and Ziv Burman: Twins, separated in captivity, now set to be released.
• Evatar Davidid and Gigilboa Dalal: Childhood friends, also to be released.
• Aviatan: A British-Israeli, whose mother desperately wants to hear his heartbeat again. He was kidnapped with his girlfriend, Noah Argammani.
• Alan Oel: A pyist, shown in a captivity video having lost sight in one eye.
• Bipin Joshi: A Nepalese student, whose family released a Hamas video of him in captivity.

The bodies of those killed on October 7th or as hostages include:

• Amiram Kooper (85) and Ariel Zalmanovich (85): The latter's son stated he was murdered in a Gaza hospital.
• Inbar Haymon (27): A graffiti artist taken from the Nova Festival.
• Muhammad El Atrash: A Bedouin father of 13.
• Joshua Mal: An agricultural student from Tanzania.
• Yossi Sharabi: Whose British family fought to bring his body home, emphasizing the "torture and trauma" of not having a grave.

Concerns remain about locating all bodies, with some suggesting it could be a final act of "psychological torture" by Hamas.

Future Challenges and Broader Implications

While the ceasefire is imminent, significant challenges lie ahead:

• Gaza's Future Governance and Security: These "big issues" are unresolved and will require difficult negotiations.
• Lack of Mutual Goodwill: Hamas's statement accusing Netanyahu's government of trying to "confuse the situation, disrupt the efforts of mediators and to keep going... with the genocide until the last moment" indicates a lack of trust.
• Long-term Peace: Jeremy Bowen, international editor, believes the ceasefire will last, but the "big question is about the negotiations that follow it to finalize the agreement."
• Historical Significance: The events of the past two years are considered as significant as the 1948 (Israel's independence/Palestinian catastrophe) and 1967 (capture of West Bank, Gaza, East Jerusalem) conflicts in shaping the region.
• Global Attitudes: The conflict has "changed a lot of attitudes... across the world to both Palestinians and Israelis."
• Domestic Impact: The conflict has had an "outsized influence" on national conversations, particularly in the UK, affecting faith groups, protests, and political discourse.

The "Board of Peace" may involve figures like Tony Blair and Jonathan Powell (a key negotiator for the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland), drawing parallels to that complex peace process.

Conclusion

The impending ceasefire and hostage deal represent a momentous diplomatic breakthrough, largely attributed to President Trump's assertive mediation. While bringing immediate relief and hope to countless individuals in Israel and Gaza, the agreement is merely the first phase of a much larger and more complex peace plan. The long-term success hinges on resolving critical issues like Gaza's future governance and security, which will require sustained negotiations amidst deep-seated mistrust and trauma. The conflict has profoundly reshaped the region and global perceptions, marking a historical turning point whose full implications will unfold in the years to come.