How Does The Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Affect Hostages And Palestinian Prisoners?

Israel and Hamas have reached an agreement on the first phase of a ceasefire in Gaza. Negotiations, which resumed in Cairo following agreement on US President Donald Trump's 20-point peace plan, resulted in a preliminary understanding between Israel and the Palestinian militant group.

The official ceasefire document is expected to be signed on Thursday in Egypt. President Trump is also anticipated to visit Israel and Egypt later this week to oversee developments.

First Phase of the Gaza Peace Plan

Under the first phase of the ceasefire, Hamas will release the 48 Israelis still held in captivity following the October 7 attack. Out of these, around 20 hostages are believed to be alive.

In exchange, Israel will release Palestinians who have been imprisoned or detained in Israeli facilities. Based on previous ceasefire arrangements, at least 100 Palestinians are expected to be freed for each Israeli hostage released.

According to the White House, once all hostages are released, Israel will free 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences, along with 1,700 Gazans detained after the Hamas attack, including women and children. Additionally, for every Israeli hostage whose remains are returned, Israel will release the remains of 15 deceased Gazans.

Hostage releases are expected to begin by Saturday, within 72 hours of Israel publicly accepting the agreement.

The first phase will also allow essential humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, which has been facing severe famine, according to the Qatari foreign ministry.

As part of President Trump's plan, all military operations, including aerial and artillery bombardment, will be suspended, and battle lines frozen until conditions are met for a complete staged withdrawal.

Gaza Peace Deal Reached

Days after the second anniversary of the conflict's start in Gaza, Israel and Hamas formally agreed to a ceasefire. President Trump announced the breakthrough on Truth Social, praising mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey. "This is a GREAT Day for the Arab and Muslim World, Israel, all surrounding Nations, and the United States of America, and we thank the mediators... who worked with us to make this Historic and Unprecedented Event happen. BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS!" he wrote.

The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a terror attack in southern Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking 250 hostages. In retaliation, Israel imposed a complete siege on the Gaza Strip and declared war. Since then, around 67,000 Palestinians have been killed, the majority of them women and children. Due to Israel's blockade on aid, parts of Gaza have been declared famine-stricken by the United Nations.