Thousands of prisoners to be freed as hostages return—hope rises across the region
Gaza: The Israeli military has officially declared the implementation of the Gaza ceasefire agreement. In the initial phase, 11 Hamas prisoners will be released, and Israeli forces have begun retreating from the designated lines within Gaza.
According to Arab media, following the ceasefire, Gaza residents have started returning to their homes, while Israeli forces have initiated partial withdrawal from several areas.
Earlier, the Israeli cabinet approved the ceasefire and hostage exchange agreement. The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, and U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.
A statement from the Israeli Prime Minister’s office said that in exchange for the release of all Israeli hostages, approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners will be freed, and Israeli forces will gradually withdraw from 53% of Gaza territory.
As per the agreement, Hamas will release all hostages within 72 hours, and both parties will ensure full implementation of the ceasefire during the remaining period.
Background of the Peace Deal
Negotiations for peace in Gaza had been ongoing for several months. Eventually, U.S. President Donald Trump presented a 20-point peace plan, which was supported by Pakistan and eight other Muslim countries, and accepted by Israel.
Subsequently, talks were held in Egypt between Hamas and Israeli officials through mediators, resulting in the peace agreement finalized two days ago.
According to a U.S. official, an international force comprising 200 personnel will be formed to monitor the implementation of the agreement. This force will include military personnel from Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and possibly the United Arab Emirates.
