THE ESSENTIALS
- Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire early Thursday, in accordance with the first phase of the peace plan proposed by the US president. Read the article
- Donald Trump thinks about the return of the hostages detained in the Gaza Strip “on Monday.” Read the article
- The live hostages will be released in exchange for almost 2,000 Palestinian detainees, Hamas announced. Read the summary
Wave of joy in Gaza following the announcement of the ceasefire agreement
When the ceasefire agreement was announced, a wave of joy swept over Al-Mawasi, a sector of the central Gaza Strip where tens of thousands of Palestinians displaced by Israeli attacks are crowded, an AFP journalist observed on the spot.
“When I heard the news I couldn’t contain myself. Tears of joy flowed,” displaced Samer Joudeh told AFP.
“Two years of bombings, terror, destruction, loss, humiliation and the constant feeling that we could die at any moment. And here we finally feel that we are experiencing a moment of respite.”
Gaza Civil Defense reports on Israeli attacks after agreement announcement
The Gaza Civil Defense reported several Israeli attacks in the territory, which came after the announcement overnight of an agreement between Israel and Hamas for a ceasefire.
“Since the announcement last night of an agreement on the proposed framework for a ceasefire, there have been reports of several explosions, particularly in northern Gaza,” said one of its officials, Mohammed Al-Mughayyir, citing in particular “intense airstrikes against Gaza City.”
The UN Secretary General calls on all parties to “fully respect the terms” of the agreement
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday welcomed the agreement between Israel and Hamas and called on all parties involved to “fully respect its terms.”
“All hostages must be released in a dignified manner. A permanent ceasefire agreement must be reached. The fighting must stop once and for all (…). The suffering must end,” he said in a statement, ensuring that the UN was ready to “increase the provision of sustainable and principled humanitarian aid” and participate in the reconstruction of the devastated Palestinian territory.
Twenty hostages released alive against almost 2,000 Palestinian detainees
Hamas announced that the 20 live hostages still in the Gaza Strip will be released immediately, in exchange for almost 2,000 Palestinian detainees.
The exchange must take place within 72 hours of the start of application of the agreement, whose signature is expected on Thursday, a source in the Islamist movement familiar with the negotiations told AFP.
Donald Trump believes that the Israeli hostages “will return on Monday”
Donald Trump said Wednesday that he thought the hostages held in the Gaza Strip would return “on Monday,” during an interview on Fox News following the announcement ofan agreement for a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel.
“I believe the hostages will return on Monday (…) this will include the bodies of the dead,” declared the US president.
Of the 251 people kidnapped on October 7, 2023, 47 remain hostages in Palestinian territory, 25 of whom died according to the Israeli army.
Hamas calls to “force Israel to fully implement the deadlines of the agreement”
Hamas “announces that it has reached an agreement that provides for the end of the war in Gaza, the withdrawal of the occupation (Israel, editor’s note), the entry of humanitarian aid and (an) exchange of prisoners,” the Islamist movement wrote in reference to the hostages that will be released against the Palestinians held by Israel.
The movement calls on “(American President Donald) Trump (and) the countries guarantors of the agreement (…) to force (Israel) to fully implement the deadlines of the agreement and not allow it to evade or postpone the application of what was agreed.”
Benjamin Netanyahu says ‘all hostages will be brought home’
“With God’s help, we will bring them all home,” Benjamin Netanyahu said simply in a brief statement released by his office after the announcement of the signing of a ceasefire in Gaza.
“With the approval of the first phase of the plan, all our hostages will be repatriated. This is a diplomatic success and a national and moral victory for the State of Israel,” he wrote in X.
A ceasefire agreement in Gaza reached by Hamas and Israel
Hello and welcome to this live broadcast dedicated to the agreement between Israel and Hamas for a ceasefire in Gaza, as part of Donald Trump’s plan to establish a “lasting” peace in the region.
“All the hostages will be released very soon” and “Israel will withdraw its troops” from the enclave, Donald Trump announced on his Truth social network.
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Source: BFM TV
