A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza is starting on Sunday morning, with a plan to free hostages later that day. This ceasefire could help end a 15-month war that has changed the Middle East.
Israeli troops are pulling back from certain areas in Gaza, according to reports. The ceasefire deal was reached after many discussions led by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, just before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.
The ceasefire starts at 0630 GMT on Sunday and will last for six weeks. During this time, 33 out of 98 hostages—including women, children, and elderly people—will be freed in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. This includes prisoners who are part of groups that have attacked Israelis, along with many others from Gaza held since the war began.
Three female hostages are expected to be released on Sunday afternoon through the Red Cross, swapping for 30 prisoners each. After this day, more hostages will be released weekly. During the first part of the ceasefire, the Israeli army will reduce its presence in Gaza, and some people displaced from northern Gaza can return home.
Even though a ceasefire aims to end the war, what happens next is uncertain. Gaza needs a lot of money and time to rebuild after the fighting. Hamas, which has ruled Gaza for almost 20 years, has lost leaders and fighters but still remains strong. Israel insists it will not let Hamas regain power and has taken steps to create safe zones for its troops.
In Israel, the freeing of hostages might ease some anger towards Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over earlier security failures. However, pressure from hardline supporters in his government could lead to renewed conflict if the war does not continue. If fighting resumes, a lot of hostages might be left behind in Gaza.
The war has also affected the wider Middle East, leading to conflict with Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed group, and direct clashes with Iran itself. After a year, things have changed dramatically. Iran’s influence in the region has weakened, and vital allies like Syria’s Assad regime are no longer a threat. However, Israel faces global criticism for the destruction in Gaza. Netanyahu is dealing with a warrant for war crimes and accusations of genocide, which Israel denies, calling them politically motivated.
This conflict began after a deadly attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, killing over 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages. Israel’s campaign in Gaza has claimed nearly 47,000 Palestinian lives, according to local health officials, most of whom were civilians, while Israel states that many casualties were fighters.
Leave a Reply