Hamas says we declare an end to the war today and the start of permanent ceasefire

Israel and Hamas have reached agreement on the first phase of a ceasefire and hostage exchange, a step that could mark the beginning of an end to the Gaza conflict. Under the arrangement, Hamas will release the 20 surviving hostages in its custody, while Israel will free nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees and reposition its forces to an agreed line, according to sources. The deal has been welcomed by international leaders, as well as by Palestinians and Israelis, though key questions remain unresolved, including governance in Gaza.

The breakthrough comes after more than two years of fighting that has claimed tens of thousands of lives. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed it as “a great day for Israel” and scheduled cabinet meetings for Thursday to approve the agreement. Once ratified, a ceasefire in Gaza will begin, and Israeli forces will pull back to a line that leaves them in control of about 53% of the territory.

Israeli government spokeswoman Shosh Bedrosian said a 72-hour period will then commence, during which Hamas will release the hostages it seized in the October 7, 2023 attacks, with the process to be completed by Monday. Israel has also agreed to permit 400 aid trucks into Gaza daily for the first five days, with numbers set to rise in subsequent phases. Hamas confirmed the accord includes both a partial Israeli withdrawal and increased humanitarian access, and urged U.S. President Donald Trump to ensure Israel adheres to its commitments.

Officials said the deal reflects the first section of a broader 20-point peace framework Trump put forward in late September. Hamas representatives added that their list of detainees for release includes prominent figures, among them Marwan Barghouti, widely regarded by Palestinians as a potential future president. Israeli officials, however, stated Thursday that Barghouti would not be among those freed.