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Hostages

Gaza Ceasefire Deal Reached, Ending War That Killed Thousands

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A major breakthrough in the Middle East peace process was announced yesterday, with Israel and Hamas agreeing to a Gaza ceasefire deal that will free the remaining living hostages, bringing an end to a war that has killed tens of thousands of people and unleashed a humanitarian catastrophe. The agreement, which follows a 20-point peace plan for Gaza announced last month by US President Donald Trump, calls for Israel to release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and will allow a surge of aid into Gaza after more than two years of war. Under the deal, Hamas will exchange 20 living hostages for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, with the swap expected to happen within 72 hours of its implementation.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Gaza ceasefire deal was reached in indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas in a conference centre in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.
  • The deal calls for Israel to release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including those sentenced to life imprisonment and those arrested since the war began.
  • Hamas will free the remaining 47 hostages, both alive and dead, who were seized in October 2023.
  • The deal is the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, which aims to end the war, release Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and bring aid into Gaza.
  • Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he will bring the hostages home "with God's help", and an official source added the premier's cabinet will meet to approve the deal.
  • US President Donald Trump has said he may travel to the Middle East this week as a deal was "very close", and may visit Gaza and Egypt.

Statistics:

  • 1,219 people killed in the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023, mostly civilians (according to official Israeli figures).
  • 67,183 people killed in Israel's retaliatory campaign in Gaza, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory. (Note: The data does not distinguish between civilians and combatants and indicates that more than half of the dead are women and children.)
  • 251 people taken hostage into Gaza by militants, with 47 remaining, including 25 the Israeli military says are dead.
  • 1,700 Palestinian prisoners to be released in exchange for the hostages.
  • 250 Palestinians sentenced to life imprisonment to be released as part of the deal.

Sources:

  • AFP (The article does not mention any specific publication date but AFP is the news agency mentioned in the story.)

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