In a long-awaited development, a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has taken effect in Gaza, bringing a tentative end to 15 months of devastating conflict. The truce began with an exchange of captives, as Hamas released three Israeli female hostages while Israel freed 90 Palestinian prisoners, marking the initial steps in a complex agreement mediated by Egypt, Qatar and the United States.
The toll of the war has been immense, claiming nearly 47,000 Palestinian lives in Gaza and displacing 90% of its 2.3 million residents, many multiple times. As the guns fell silent, hundreds of aid trucks lined up to enter the battered enclave, ready to deliver desperately needed supplies to the war-weary population.
Hostage-Prisoner Swap Marks First Hurdle
The ceasefire’s commencement was delayed by several hours due to a dispute between Israel and Hamas over the details of the hostage-prisoner exchange. Israel accused Hamas of failing to provide the names of the captives it would release, underlining the deep mistrust between the two sides even as they embarked on the peace process.
Among those freed by Hamas was Emily Damari, a joint UK-Israeli citizen who was violently abducted along with two other Israeli women during a surprise Hamas assault on Israeli border communities in October 2023. Images shared by Damari’s family showed her smiling and embracing loved ones, despite having lost two fingers when she was shot during her capture 15 months prior.
Palestinians Celebrate in the Streets
As word of the truce spread, thousands of Palestinians poured into the streets of Gaza, celebrating the end of the relentless Israeli bombardment. Many set off on foot to return to homes they had been forced to flee, not waiting for the official start of the ceasefire.
“I feel like at last I found some water to drink after getting lost in the desert for 15 months. I feel alive again,” said Aya, a displaced woman from Gaza City who had been sheltering in central Gaza for over a year.
Urgent Aid Delivery Begins
With the ceasefire in place, a massive humanitarian operation swung into action to rush aid into Gaza. According to the UN, the first trucks entered the territory within minutes of the truce taking hold, part of a surge effort to distribute essential supplies across the devastated strip.
“A massive effort has been under way over the past days from humanitarian partners to load and prepare to distribute a surge of aid across all of Gaza,” said Jonathan Whittall, the interim chief of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
Fragile Agreement Faces Challenges
The 42-day initial phase of the ceasefire agreement is intended to free 33 hostages from Gaza while securing the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees held by Israel. It also calls for Israeli forces to withdraw to a buffer zone inside Gaza, allowing many of the displaced to return home.
However, the next stages of the deal are likely to prove far more difficult. The second phase negotiations, slated to begin in just over two weeks, must tackle thorny issues such as the postwar future of Gaza, which will require billions of dollars and years to rebuild. There are significant doubts over whether the truce will hold beyond the initial six-week period.
Political Fallout in Israel
The ceasefire deal has also sparked political turmoil in Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced an immediate backlash from his far-right coalition partners, with the Jewish Power party led by Itamar Ben-Gvir quitting the government in protest. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich also threatened to topple the administration over the agreement.
Despite the unraveling of his coalition, Netanyahu hailed the day as “incredibly moving” and expressed confidence that the truce would endure. He praised the fortitude of the freed Israeli captives, saying, “They went through hell, they are going from darkness to light, they are truly exiting slavery for freedom.”
International Reaction and Uncertain Future
The Gaza ceasefire was welcomed internationally, with the United States and United Kingdom, among other powers, urging both sides to adhere to the terms and refrain from any provocations. U.S. President Joe Biden, on his final full day in office, spoke of the truce coming “after so much pain, death and loss of life.”
While the silence of the guns has brought relief to Gaza’s beleaguered residents and the families of the hostages held by Hamas, the future of the territory remains uncertain. Much depends on whether the complex, phased agreement reached through months of arduous negotiations can be implemented in full.
For the people of Gaza, who have endured unimaginable suffering and hardship, the ceasefire offers a glimmer of hope that the rebuilding of their shattered homes and lives can finally begin. But the path ahead is fraught with challenges, as the deep-seated issues at the heart of the Israel-Gaza conflict remain unresolved.
