Ceasefire in sight: Israel and Hamas agree on hostage deal

Ceasefire in sight: Israel and Hamas agree on hostage deal

In a decisive turn in the Middle East conflict, Israel and Hamas have signed an agreement in Doha to release hostages, which also includes a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. This was confirmed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office kathpress reported. The talks, which lasted several days, bring hope for the affected families, as the first of several phases is due to come into force on Sunday at 11:15 a.m. CET. During this phase, all hostilities will be suspended while 33 Israeli hostages are to be exchanged for approximately 1,000 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons.

Netanyahu has already taken steps to approve the agreement and convened the security cabinet. A statement from his office said the families of the hostages have been informed of the next steps and every effort is being made to organize the return of the hostages. However, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir threatened to resign from the government with his Jewish Strength party if the agreement was not implemented in his party's spirit. This could further destabilize the political landscape in Israel ZDF stated.

Controversial conditions

However, the agreement is not without controversy. Netanyahu expressed concerns that Hamas might try to extract last-minute concessions, potentially leading to a crisis. This situation poses additional risks to the planned ceasefire, further complicating the situation for civilians and hampering hopes for a lasting solution. While the Israelis hope for the hostages' return, the Palestinians are also in line to benefit from aid deliveries to come after the ceasefire.

Whether and how the planned ceasefire will actually be implemented remains to be seen. The next few days are crucial to see whether the agreement remains stable or whether tensions flare up again.