Tears of joy in Tel Aviv and Gaza - historic truce and hostage release

Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas agreed early on the first phase of a US-brokered ceasefire plan that would see the release of all hostages in Gaza, an Israeli withdrawal to an agreed-upon point and the release of some Palestinian prisoners, CNN reported. A second phase, to be negotiated, is expected to involve a full Israeli withdrawal, the disarmament of Hamas and the establishment of new security and governance arrangements in Gaza.

US President Donald Trump said the hostages would be released in the coming days. The White House official made the announcement on his Truth Social network, saying Israel would withdraw its troops along an agreed-upon line as a first step towards "a solid, lasting and everlasting peace.”

Hamas, for its part, announced that it had reached an agreement with Israel, confirming that the deal includes an Israeli withdrawal from the enclave and a hostage exchange. Hamas called on the US president and other states involved in the negotiations to ensure that Israel fully implements the ceasefire agreement. Hamas also said it would release the 20 hostages still alive as of Saturday, according to Reuters. Hamas said: "We call on President Trump, the guarantor states of the agreement and all Arab, Islamic and international parties to force the occupation government to fully fulfill its obligations under the agreement and to prevent it from evading or delaying the implementation of what was agreed. We affirm that the sacrifices of our people will not be in vain and that we will remain faithful to the commitment to never give up the national rights of our people until we achieve freedom, independence and self-determination.”

The spokesman for the Israeli Prime Minister's Office announced that the ceasefire would come into effect in Gaza "within the next 24 hours” from yesterday's Cabinet meeting (ed. convened at 5 p.m.), and that this 24-hour period would be followed by a 72-hour period during which Hamas would release the remaining hostages.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called his cabinet to vote on the deal yesterday, with the first phase of the deal only able to proceed based on this vote. The vote is only on the agreement between Israel and Hamas to release Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and detainees, not on the entire framework ceasefire agreement.

Benjamin Netanyahu called the deal "a great day for Israel,” saying: "I thank President Trump and his team from the bottom of my heart for their commitment to this sacred mission of freeing our hostages.”

By law, there is a short period of time after Netanyahu's cabinet votes on the deal in which appeals can be filed. Only after this hurdle is cleared can the government proceed with the hostage release.

According to a White House official, quoted by CNN, once the agreement is voted on, "Israel must withdraw behind the agreed line, which should take less than 24 hours,” after which the period in which Hamas will act begins.

Donald Trump has said that he is likely to visit Israel and address the Israeli parliament in the coming days.

In this context, Sultan Barakat, a professor at Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Qatar, says, quoted by Al Jazeera, that observers "are optimistic” about the Gaza agreement, "because they can see the level to which Trump has invested himself and his reputation.”

"He cannot easily withdraw from this situation, especially if he really wants to receive credit for being a global peacemaker,” Barakat said of the US president, adding: "He has to make it a success.”

• World leaders react to Israel-Hamas deal

- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres: "I urge all parties concerned to seize this important opportunity to establish a credible political path towards ending the occupation, recognizing the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, and achieving a two-state solution that allows Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace and security. The stakes have never been higher."

- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov: "We are realistic. We understand that this is the best thing on the table at this time. At least, the best in terms of acceptability for Arab states."

- Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan: "I express my sincere gratitude to US President Trump, who has demonstrated the political will to encourage the Israeli government to accept the ceasefire."

- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer: "It is a moment of profound relief, which will be felt around the world, but especially by the hostages."

- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer: "This is a moment of profound relief that will be felt around the world, but especially by the hostages, their families and the civilian population of Gaza, who have endured unimaginable suffering over the past two years."

- French President Emmanuel Macron: "This agreement must mark the end of the war and the beginning of a political solution based on the two-state solution. France is ready to contribute to this objective."

- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz: "We are encouraged by the developments in Israel. There is clearly a strong chance of reaching an agreement with Hamas in the coming hours."

- European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen: "I appreciate the diplomatic efforts of the United States, Qatar, Egypt and Turkey in achieving this progress. I am also encouraged by the support of the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority. All parties must now fully respect the terms of the agreement. All hostages must be released safely. A permanent ceasefire must be established. The suffering must end. The EU will continue to support the rapid and safe delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. When the time comes, we will be ready to help with recovery and reconstruction. We should seize the opportunity - it is an opportunity to build a credible political path towards lasting peace and security."

- European Council President Antonio Costa: "I welcome the diplomatic efforts of the United States, Egypt, Qatar and Turkey that have made this achievement possible. It is a crucial opportunity that must be seized to lay the foundations for a lasting peace based on a two-state solution."

- European High Representative Kaja Kallas: "It is a major diplomatic achievement and a real chance to end a devastating war and free all hostages. The EU will do everything in its power to support its implementation."

- European Parliament President Roberta Metsola: "It is a crucial moment for peace and renewal in the Middle East, and opens a path that could end the intergenerational cycle of violence, suffering and terror that has plagued the region."

- Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese: "After more than two years of conflict, hostages being held and a devastating loss of life, this is a long-awaited step towards peace. We urge all parties to abide by the terms of the plan."

- World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus: "WHO stands ready to step up its efforts to meet the urgent medical needs of patients in Gaza and to support the rebuilding of the shattered health system. The best medicine is peace."

- Nicuşor Dan, President of Romania: "Our country remains committed to supporting efforts aimed at achieving lasting peace in the Middle East. I warmly welcome the agreement on the ceasefire and the safe return of all Israeli hostages from Gaza. This brings much-needed hope for peace and stability in the region. Romania remains committed to supporting efforts aimed at achieving lasting peace in the Middle East."

• Palestinians in Gaza celebrate news of ceasefire

Palestinians have reacted with joy to the announcement of a ceasefire agreement aimed at ending the Israeli war in Gaza, with residents of Khan Younis (southern Gaza) taking to the streets.

"Thank God for this ceasefire, for the end of bloodshed and killing. All of Gaza is happy,” said Abdul Majeed Abd Rabbo, a Gaza resident, according to aljazeera.com, adding: "These are the moments considered historic, long awaited by Palestinian citizens.”

Khaled Shaat, another Gaza resident, said: "The joy we saw a short while ago on the streets is the relief from massacres, murders and genocide.”

Nabeel Awad-Allah, also a resident of Gaza, expressed hope that the ceasefire plan would "preserve what is left of the Palestinians,” stressing: "To preserve the lives of the Palestinians, we must all be happy with this ceasefire agreement. It is excellent!”

Another resident, Abu Hesham, said that while the initial agreement "brings peace,” people do not trust the Israeli government and "are afraid of the period that will follow the first phase.” In his opinion, there should be security guarantees for the enclave.

After suffering months of hunger due to the conflict, Gazans are waiting for the moment when essential aid, food and medical supplies can be distributed.

• "Total joy” in Israel

In Israel, where opposition to the continuation of the war has grown, crowds took to the streets to celebrate the news of the ceasefire. According to timesofisrael.com, family members of the hostages, released hostages and several grieving relatives gathered in Tel Aviv's Hostage Square after the incident.

• "Total joy” in Israel

In Israel, where opposition to the continuation of the war has grown, crowds took to the streets to celebrate the news of the ceasefire. According to timesofisrael.com, hostages' families, released hostages and many grieving relatives gathered in Tel Aviv's Hostage Square after news of the imminent hostage deal emerged.

"We are delighted, the tears have not stopped flowing, it is total joy,” Einav Zangauker, the mother of Israeli hostage Matan Zangauker, told Israel National News.

The Hostages and Families of the Missing Forum, the main group representing relatives of Israeli captives, welcomed the news of the ceasefire but stressed that "the fight will not end” until every captive returns home.

• Accounts of hostages or their families

Agam Berger - a military observer on the edge of the Nahal Oz area, captured on October 7, 2023, spent 482 days in captivity, according to Wikipedia. Even under severe restrictions, he continued to observe his faith - he kept Shabbat and ate kosher, as much as possible. After his release, he became intensely involved in activism for the release of the other hostages.

Eli Sharabi was detained by Hamas for 491 days, and for the first 52 days he spent in a house considered "safe" in Gaza, after which he was moved to the tunnels. The conditions were very difficult: hunger, hard to breathe air, poor hygiene, iron chains on his legs constantly. Other hostages with whom he was in contact were deprived of food, says Eli Sharabi.

The Almog-Goldstein family - part of a group taken hostage in the October 7 attack. According to The Guardian, the family members were taken to a courtyard of a block of flats, then to an underground tunnel, where they were under constant military surveillance. The last part of their captivity was spent in the tunnels, under the constant threat of bombing.

Families of some of the freed women reported that they were "starved, intimidated and threatened,” according to the BBC, which writes that the women were held in tunnels or underground buildings, where they witnessed physical abuse committed in front of them. Some were forced to cook and clean for the guards. They were also used in propaganda videos, with some forced to fake death to induce fear or for manipulation, according to the BBC.

On the Palestinian side, many were arrested in Gaza, taken to military prisons in Israel, declaring, according to the BBC, that they were continuously abused through beatings, food deprivation, lack of hygiene conditions, exposure to degrading detention conditions.

According to the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, quoted by palestinechronicle.com, the released detainees showed serious signs of physical and mental deterioration: significant weight loss, untreated medical problems, poor health. The organization emphasizes that these conditions were not isolated.

And Amnesty International has drawn attention to the fact that, since the outbreak of the conflict, in October 2023, reports show a significant increase in the use of detention, often without concrete charges or a fair trial, and some detainees have reported severe beatings, humiliation, unsanitary detention conditions, lack of access to lawyers and family visits.