Overview
- Israeli ministers approved the first-phase deal and the military began withdrawing toward an agreed “yellow line,” with the ceasefire framework moving into effect.
- The plan calls for Hamas to release about 20 living hostages within 72 hours of the pullback in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, with some remains also to be returned.
- Humanitarian provisions include expanded access for aid convoys, and UN agencies say they are ready to scale up operations as some displaced residents start to head back toward northern areas.
- Egypt, Qatar, Turkey and the United States mediated the agreement, and U.S. officials say roughly 200 personnel will help monitor the truce without deploying combat troops into Gaza.
- Political risks persist as Israeli far-right ministers oppose the swap and key issues such as Hamas disarmament and Gaza’s future governance remain unresolved; Hamas leaders claim the war has ended but enforcement is uncertain.