Ceasefire between Israel and Hamas

The war between Israel and Hamas, which had been raging for two years, is coming to an end. The ongoing conflict is set to conclude after both sides agreed to a ceasefire mediated by the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey. U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Hamas had reached an agreement on the “first phase” of a deal to end the war in Gaza. Announcing the agreement following talks held in Egypt as part of his 20-point peace plan, President Trump stated, “I am confident that all hostages will be returned by Monday.”

World leaders expressed new hopes for peace on Thursday, urging both parties to uphold their commitments. According to CNN, this agreement is seen as a major diplomatic breakthrough towards ending the devastating two-year war in Gaza.

According to President Trump, Hamas will release all 20 remaining Israeli hostages alive in the coming days, in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners. Meanwhile, the Israeli army will begin withdrawing from most parts of Gaza.

“This means that all hostages will soon return home, and Israel, as part of a strong, long-term, and lasting peace, will begin withdrawing its forces along the agreed lines,” President Trump said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated, “By the grace of God, we will bring everyone home.” United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said, “The United Nations will support the full implementation of this agreement and will intensify efforts to provide sustainable humanitarian relief, reconstruction, and rehabilitation in Gaza.”

“This opportunity must pave the way for a credible political process towards ending the occupation, respecting the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination, and advancing toward a two-state solution that enables both Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace and security,” Guterres added.

Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters, “Japan welcomes the agreement reached between the parties in the ‘first phase.’ This deal is an important step toward de-escalation and the two-state solution.”

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Argentine President Javier Milei, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters also welcomed the ceasefire agreement.

Sameer Judeh, a displaced resident of Gaza, said, “For two years, we lived under constant bombing, terror, destruction, and fear of death. When I heard this news today, I couldn’t hold back tears of joy. At last, it feels like we can finally breathe in peace.”

According to Hamas sources, 250 Palestinians serving life sentences in Israel and 1,700 other prisoners will be released. The war took a catastrophic turn after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,219 civilians, which prompted Israel’s counteroffensive. Ten Nepali students were also killed in the Hamas attack, while another Nepali student, Bipin Joshi, was taken hostage and remains missing.

Of the 251 hostages held in Gaza, 47 are still unaccounted for, and according to the Israeli military, 25 of them have been confirmed dead. The Gaza Health Ministry, run by Hamas, reports that at least 67,183 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli military operations, more than half of them women and children. Over 100,000 Palestinians have been injured during the war. Around 5,000 Nepali workers are currently employed in Israel.