A significant breakthrough has been reached in the ongoing Gaza conflict, with Egypt announcing a truce that will see Israel releasing over 1,890 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for 33 Israeli hostages. The agreement, mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, marks a critical step toward de-escalation and is set to begin at 06:30 GMT on Sunday.
The first phase of the ceasefire, lasting 42 days, will include the release of these prisoners. Qatar revealed that the 33 hostages currently held by militants in Gaza would also be freed during this initial phase.
However, Israel’s justice ministry clarified that the release of Palestinian prisoners, which includes 737 detainees in the initial round, would not commence before 14:00 GMT on Sunday.
The agreement comes as part of ongoing efforts to address the humanitarian crisis triggered by the conflict. Of the 251 people taken hostage during Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023, 94 remain in Gaza, including 34 confirmed dead by the Israeli military.
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This ceasefire represents only the second truce in 15 months of war in the Gaza Strip, a conflict that has claimed more than 50,000 lives and left the Palestinian territory in ruins.
The truce comes on the eve of President-elect Donald Trump’s second inauguration, highlighting international efforts to secure peace in the region.
Egypt’s foreign ministry expressed gratitude to Qatar for its role in brokering the deal and acknowledged the “pivotal role” of the incoming U.S. administration under President Trump. The ministry also thanked outgoing President Joe Biden for his contributions to ending the crisis.
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