Two years after Hamas's attack on Israel, which triggered one of the most prolonged and devastating wars in the Middle East, a ceasefire finally began this Friday in the Gaza Strip. The agreement, driven by U.S. President Donald Trump, aims to end more than twenty-four months of confrontations, with the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners as the central focus of the deal.
According to the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli cabinet approved the draft agreement early Friday morning, marking the start of the "first phase" of the process. In the next 24 hours, the Israeli army will begin to withdraw to a line that will leave around 53% of the Gaza Strip under its control. This means that Israel is not completely withdrawing from Gaza. As part of the agreement, its troops will withdraw partially but will maintain military control over part of the territory, which amounts to approximately 53%, according to a map released by the White House.
During the 72 hours following the start of the ceasefire, Hamas must release the 20 hostages who are still alive, including three Argentines. The return of the remains of another 28 deceased is expected afterward, although it is still unclear how long that process will take.
Israel has committed to release 250 Palestinian prisoners sentenced to life in prison and another 1,700 detainees from Gaza, in addition to returning the bodies of 15 Palestinians for each Israeli hostage delivered. This measure seeks to provide a humanitarian response to both sides of the conflict, though it generates internal tensions.
The agreement comes after months of secret negotiations and international pressure, in a context where the Gazan civilian population faces an unprecedented humanitarian crisis and the territory remains in ruins after the bombings.
However, the inevitable question arises: will this ceasefire be the beginning of lasting peace or just a pause in a conflict that seems endless?
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