In historic breakthrough Israel, Hamas agree on first phase peace deal; hostages to be released
After two years of violence that erupted when Hamas launched a deadly attack on Israel on Oct 7, 2023, a historic breakthrough came on Oct 9. Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a peace plan brokered by former US President Donald Trump. The deal starts with the release of all hostages held by Hamas and the staged pull‑back of Israeli troops from Gaza.
Trump posted a short, upbeat message on Truth Social, saying, “Israel and Hamas are moving forward. All hostages will be freed soon, and Israeli troops will withdraw to an agreed line in the first phase.” The announcement was followed by a meeting with journalists, during which Trump hinted that he could travel to the region as early as Saturday.
The talks, which were mediated by Qatar, Egypt and Turkey, froze briefly after Israeli air strikes hit a building in Qatar where Hamas negotiators were staying. Trump’s intervention, especially a direct call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, helped revive the stalled dialogue. The momentum lasted until the two sides finally signed the agreement in Egypt, a week after Trump’s “remove me” comment at a press conference in Washington.
Key points of the deal
- Hostage release – All 250 people taken by Hamas will be freed.
- Humanitarian access – Gaza will open to aid shipments, breaking conditions that the UN says are famine‑like.
- Gaza withdrawal – Israeli forces will pull out of the Strip in stages, ending a 14‑day occupation that has cut off most supplies.
- Prisoner exchange – Palestinian inmates in Israel will be swapped for the released hostages.
Netanyahu praised the deal as a win for Israel and the Muslim world, saying, “With God’s help, we will bring them all home.” Hamas described the pact as ensuring a pull‑back of Israeli troops, humanitarian aid, and a prisoner swap. It also thanked Trump for “permanently ending the war” and securing Gaza’s full withdrawal from Israeli occupation.
Why Trump is focused on Gaza
Trump’s 20‑point Gaza peace plan, unveiled in an appearance at Fox News, aims to free hostages first, then move the rest of the plan along—linking Gaza’s future to a broader Middle‑East peace agenda that could revive the Abraham Accords. Those accords, originally signed in 2020, normalized relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco. Trump believes the new agreement could set the stage for expanding these ties even further, potentially involving Iran.
The plan also proposes a “technocratic, apolitical” Palestinian governing body for Gaza, chaired by Trump himself, with former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair as a key influencer.
Domestic and international pressure
Israel’s long‑standing isolation in the region has grown. After the Gaza offensive, most countries condemned the assault and rallied behind the idea of a Palestinian state. Domestically, pressure to bring home the hostages has never been higher. In the same breath, Netanyahu’s right‑wing allies still push for a hard line that calls for sweeping concessions from Pakistan.
For Gaza’s residents, life on the ground has become unbearable. Under Hamas rule and Israeli blockades, agriculture collapsed, health services stalled, and camps grew crowded. Arab countries, wary of the conflict’s spill‑over, urged Hamas to accept the deal.
In short, the Oct 9 agreement marks a turning point that could end two years of fighting and set the stage for a new era of stability in the eastern Mediterranean. Whether the phased withdrawal will follow through, and whether the broader Middle‑East peace web will tighten, remains to be seen. But the first steps—hostage release and an agreed pull‑back—are historic moves that could lower tensions in a region long torn by conflict.
Source: ianslive
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