“This is definitely good news. The road towards peace is long, but it must start somewhere. These initial steps – most importantly the release of hostages and prisoners, and the partial withdrawal of the Israeli troops – will boost the confidence needed to progress further along this path.”
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, contacted by SIR, shared his thoughts on the ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel, signed overnight in Egypt. “This first phase will pave the way for others,” the patriarch added, “and establish a new environment that will also facilitate the distribution of humanitarian aid. Returning to normality and ordinary life is not yet possible because the situation is disastrous, but it must nonetheless be given due consideration.” The Secretary General of Caritas Jerusalem, Anton Asfar, shares his view:
“This is great news. We eagerly await further details on the humanitarian corridors and hope to start rebuilding lives in the Holy Land.”
First phase. The first phase of the agreement stipulates the withdrawal of the Israeli troops from Gaza and the release of all 20 hostages still alive (28 are reported dead). This could happen as early as the coming weekend. Hamas has announced that 20 hostages will be released in exchange for 1,950 Palestinian prisoners, 250 of whom are serving life sentences. However, thorny issues, such as the disarmament of Hamas and the future governance of Gaza, are yet to be discussed. The deal was welcomed in Gaza with celebrations in the streets, including dancing and singing, as shown in videos circulating online. Reports are also coming in from Gaza that Israeli bombing continued throughout the night in Gaza City and Khan Yunis.
Trump on Truth Social: “I am proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our peace deal. This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace,” Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social. “This is a great Day for the Arab and Muslim World, Israel, all surrounding Nations, and the United States of America, and we thank the mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, who worked with us to make this Historic and Unprecedented Event happen.” “With God’s help, we will bring everyone home,” said Benjamin Netanyahu, who convened his government to ratify the agreement. Hamas, for its part, said the deal came “after responsible and serious negotiations between the movement and the Palestinian resistance factions”, confirms “the end of the war in Gaza, the withdrawal of the Israeli army (IDF), the entry of aid and the exchange of prisoners”. Both the Islamist movement and Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu thanked the US president for his mediation. Hamas also asked Trump to put pressure on Israel to respect the terms of the agreement.
Reactions. The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, likewise voiced his satisfaction at the signing of the US peace deal. He urged all concerned to “abide fully” by its terms. “All hostages must be released in a dignified manner. A permanent ceasefire must be secured. The fighting must stop once and for all”, Guterres remarked. “Immediate and unimpeded entry of humanitarian supplies and essential commercial materials into Gaza must be ensured”, he said. The Hostages Families Forum greeted the announcement of the deal with “excitement, hope and concern”. The Forum released a statement earlier on Thursday in which they “welcome the signing of an agreement meant to bring all the hostages home — the living for rehabilitation among their families, and the fallen, for proper burial in their homeland”.
“This is an important and significant step on the path to returning everyone, but our struggle is not over and will not end until the last hostage returns.”
The Forum also expressed “deep gratitude” to President Trump and his team “for the leadership and determination that led to a historic breakthrough: ending the war and reaching a comprehensive agreement for the return of all hostages.” They then called on the Israeli government to convene immediately to ratify the deal. Any delay could have a serious impact on the hostages and soldiers. “There are still 48 hostages, including one woman, in Hamas captivity. Our moral and national obligation is to bring them all home, both the living and the dead. Their return is a condition for the recovery and renewal of Israeli society as a whole. We will not rest or be silent until the last hostage is returned.”
Overview. The deal comes two years after Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza in response to the terrorist attack on 7 October 2023, in which Hamas killed nearly 1,200 people and took 251 others hostage. Since then, according to the Hamas-run Palestinian Ministry of Health, at least 67,183 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli army in Gaza, including 20,179 children.
