Overview

• The agreement, brokered by Egypt, Qatar, Turkey and the United States in Sharm el‑Sheikh, pairs the release of remaining hostages with a large prisoner exchange, an Israeli pullback to a negotiated line and a pause in fighting to allow aid in.
• Israel is expected to free roughly 250 Palestinians serving life sentences and about 1,700 detainees held since October 7, 2023, in exchange for the hostages.
• Timing remains unsettled, with a 72‑hour execution window after formal approval and conflicting signals placing releases between Saturday and Tuesday, as Israel’s cabinet meets to ratify the deal.
• Israeli figures indicate about 48 hostages remain in Gaza with roughly 20 believed alive, and negotiators acknowledge uncertainty over the locations of some deceased captives’ remains.
• UN agencies say up to 400 aid trucks per day could resume deliveries once access opens, while tougher second‑phase issues—Hamas disarmament, Gaza governance and a proposed international security presence—are left for later talks.