Hamas-Israel Hostage Deal Brokered by Trump Points to Gaza War End

Hostage and Prisoner Exchange Agreement

• 🤝 An agreement has been reached between Hamas and Israel for the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
• 💡 This breakthrough is seen as a potential step towards ending the two-year war in Gaza.
• 🇺🇸 US President Donald Trump played a key role in brokering the deal, announcing that both sides agreed to the first phase of his plan.

Key Terms of the Deal

• 🚶‍♂️ Israel has agreed to pull back its troops to an agreed-upon line as part of the agreement.
• 🕊️ The release of all hostages, both living and deceased, was a critical sticking point that Hamas has now agreed to resolve.
• 📦 Following the exchange, there are indications that humanitarian aid will be allowed to enter Gaza.

Mediators and Reactions

• 🌍 The deal was mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, with Qatar acting as a lead negotiator.
• 👍 Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Israeli government welcomed the deal, with a cabinet meeting convened to approve it.
• 🗣️ Hamas has called on the guarantors to ensure Israel fully implements the agreement's requirements.

Background and Context

• 📅 The war began on October 7, 2023, following a Hamas-led attack on Israel, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and over 250 hostages taken.
• 💔 The Israeli military response has led to over 65,000 Palestinian casualties, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
• 🇺🇸 Trump had previously unveiled a 20-point plan in September to end the Gaza war and free hostages, proposing an exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners.
• ✈️ Trump is expected to travel to Israel soon, potentially as early as the upcoming weekend.