DaysofPal- Hamas Movement stated that it had received concrete assurances from the United States and international mediators that the Israeli occupation would adhere to a permanent ceasefire.
“Today we announce the agreement to end the war and aggression against our people and begin implementing a permanent ceasefire and the withdrawal of occupation forces,” said senior Hamas negotiator Khalil al-Hayya in a televised address.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday hailed a newly brokered ceasefire between the Israeli occupation and Hamas as a breakthrough toward “everlasting peace” in the Middle East. However, critical details surrounding the agreement remain unresolved.
The announcement came during a Cabinet meeting at the White House, where Trump credited his administration with ending the war in Gaza through what he described as a historic peace initiative.
“We ended the war in Gaza and, on a much bigger basis, created peace—an everlasting peace in the Middle East,” Trump said, repeating a phrase he introduced at a press briefing with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on 29 September, when the Israeli occupation first agreed to a ceasefire proposal.
Despite the announcement, Israeli airstrikes on Gaza continued Thursday.
The ceasefire deal, finalized this week during Egyptian-led negotiations, includes a significant prisoner and captive exchange.
Hamas agreed to release 20 living Israeli captives and return the bodies of 28 deceased Israelis, while the Israeli occupation will free 250 Palestinians serving life sentences and another 1,700 detained since the war began on 7 October 2023.
Trump stated that all remaining living hostages would be freed by early next week and suggested he would be present in the Israeli occupation to witness the handover before traveling to Egypt for a formal signing ceremony.
Trump, however, made only a passing reference to the immense Palestinian death toll during the conflict.
According to United Nations figures, over 67,000 Palestinians have been killed, a number the UN has categorized as part of a genocide. Instead, Trump claimed, without providing evidence, that Hamas had suffered around 70,000 casualties.
“That’s big retribution,” he said.
Trump also addressed the future of Gaza, asserting it would need to be entirely rebuilt. “Gaza is not livable right now,” he said, citing the destruction of homes, hospitals, schools, and critical infrastructure caused by months of Israeli bombardment.
He called on wealthy regional nations to contribute to Gaza’s reconstruction, saying, “Just a small portion of what they make will do wonders.”
Despite progress in negotiations, several key issues remain unresolved, such as the disarmament of Hamas, the structure of future governance in Gaza, and the extent of Israeli military withdrawal.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also announced Turkey’s participation in a multinational monitoring mission to oversee the ceasefire’s implementation on the ground.
“God willing, we as Turkey will take part in this mission,” Erdogan said during a speech in Ankara.
As the first phase of the peace deal unfolds, all eyes remain on the fragile ceasefire and the complex negotiations still ahead, particularly regarding Gaza’s future, Hamas’s role, and the broader prospects for long-term stability in the region.
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