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Israel and Hamas have struck a pivotal agreement to end the fighting in Gaza, marking a potential conclusion to a 15-month-long war that has devastated the region. The deal, confirmed by an official briefed on the negotiations, involves halting hostilities and exchanging Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners. This breakthrough comes after months of stop-start talks mediated by Egypt and Qatar, with strong backing from the United States.
The timing of the agreement is significant, coinciding with the upcoming inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on January 20. Trump's incoming administration, alongside President Joe Biden’s team, applied pressure to finalize the deal, with Trump warning of severe consequences if hostages were not released. His Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, played a crucial role in driving the negotiations to completion.
The conflict, which began on October 7, 2023, escalated after Hamas-led gunmen breached Israeli security barriers, killing 1,200 soldiers and civilians and taking over 250 hostages. In response, Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza, resulting in over 46,000 deaths, according to Gaza’s health ministry. The enclave has been reduced to rubble, with hundreds of thousands left homeless and struggling through harsh winter conditions.
The ceasefire could ease domestic tensions in Israel, where public outrage has mounted against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government for the security failures that led to the October 7 attacks—the deadliest day in Israel’s history.
The broader conflict reverberated across the Middle East, with Iran-backed groups in Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen launching attacks against Israel in solidarity with Hamas. In recent weeks, Israel carried out targeted assassinations of top leaders from Hamas and Hezbollah, actions that shifted the balance of power in its favor.
As the region grapples with the aftermath of the conflict, the agreement offers a glimmer of hope for de-escalation and humanitarian relief, though the long-term implications remain uncertain.
Source: Reuters
