Breaking News: Critical Gaza Ceasefire Deal Reached – What You Need to Know

By Paul Adams, Diplomatic Correspondent

The first phase of the ceasefire in Gaza, lasting six weeks, ends soon. During these 42 days, people have experienced a swirl of hope, uncertainty, grief, and anger. Some Israeli hostages have been returned, and Palestinian prisoners have been released too. However, talks about what happens next are just getting started.

Negotiations in Cairo began recently, but Israel’s team returned home for the night. Sources say discussions might continue remotely, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expected to hold urgent meetings with key advisers later. It’s unusual for such talks to happen on a Saturday night in Israel. As of now, there haven’t been any updates.

Israel seems focused on extending this current ceasefire phase for another six weeks. Their goal is to secure more hostages’ release while keeping troops in Gaza. The Israeli government demands that Hamas, who took 251 hostages and was behind attacks on October 7, must disarm and lose power in Gaza. They also want to maintain a military presence along the Gaza-Egypt border, which was supposed to begin changing this weekend.

An anonymous Israeli official stated, “We will not allow Hamas to roam our borders armed.” Such comments usually reflect the prime minister’s perspectives.

Last year, efforts to establish a ceasefire stumbled when Netanyahu refused to withdraw troops from the border area. Recently, Hamas communicated they would not agree to extend the current phase without assurances from the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt that the next phase would follow.

Hamas appears committed to retaining influence in Gaza, although it may hand over daily governance to other Palestinian groups, like the Palestinian Authority based in the West Bank. Egypt is drafting a reconstruction plan for Gaza, contrasting with an earlier controversial proposal by Donald Trump. However, diplomats doubt this new plan will include the necessary security measures to satisfy Israel.

This is a pivotal point in the ongoing conflict.

Amid emotional turmoil, the people of Israel expect to see more hostages returned. Currently, 24 hostages are believed to still be alive, while 39 are thought to be dead. There is a strong desire among Israelis to bring their loved ones home without political theatrics, which have provoked outrage across the nation.

If negotiations stall, public frustration could rise against both Hamas and the Israeli government. Protests are already planned in Tel Aviv, particularly at Hostages Square, a place of shared mourning and demand. A recent message from the Hostages and Missing Families Forum emphasized urgency: “We demand the return of all 59 remaining hostages by day 50 of the agreement.” The forum insists this is their only chance to influence the process.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has urged all parties to work hard to keep the current agreement intact. Many fear that without resolution, conflict could reignite, a bleak concern for everyone involved, especially those still in Gaza grappling with the aftermath of devastation.

As families work to recover remains from the rubble, the notion of re-entering conflict looms ominously. Communities in Gaza, even those that have been less affected, could face severe consequences if fighting resumes, complicating the struggle to sustain life in this hard-hit region.

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