Hamas has officially declared that the newly signed ceasefire agreement with Israel represents a “permanent end” to the Gaza war, citing firm guarantees received from the United States and regional mediators.
The head of Hamas’s negotiating team, Khalil al-Hayya, made the announcement on Thursday, stating, “We have received assurances from the brotherly mediators and the US administration, who have confirmed that the war is completely over.”
Al-Hayya’s remarks came shortly after both Hamas and Israel signed the first phase of the truce deal, which was proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Details of Phase One Exchange
The first phase of the agreement centers on a large-scale exchange of captives and detainees:
Hostage Release: Hamas is expected to release 20 living hostages within 72 hours of the ceasefire taking effect.
Prisoner Release: In exchange, Israel will free 250 Palestinians currently serving long prison terms, along with an additional 1,700 Palestinians arrested since the start of the conflict on October 7, 2023.
The truce acts as the initial step in a broader 20-point peace plan presented by the Trump administration, though crucial issues, notably the question of Gaza’s long-term governance, remain unsettled.
Israeli Deliberation and US Involvement
While Hamas claimed the war was over, the Israeli security cabinet was convened to deliberate on the proposal, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government expected to vote on its full adoption.
President Trump, announcing the agreement in Washington, said the release of hostages could happen by early next week. He also disclosed plans to travel to the region to “mark the moment” once the truce is implemented.
However, senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan stressed in an interview with Qatar’s Al-Araby TV that a formal statement officially declaring the war over must precede any hostage release, introducing a note of nuance to the timeline.
Pre-Truce Strike Reports
Adding tension to the unfolding diplomacy, reports emerged that an Israeli airstrike targeted a residential building in central Gaza City less than an hour before Al-Hayya delivered his statement regarding the “permanent end” to hostilities.
