Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Agreement: Key Details on Hostage Exchange, Prisoner Release and Humanitarian Aid Provisions

Egypt:

Israel and Hamas have reached a ceasefire agreement on Thursday that will facilitate the release of living hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners currently detained in Israeli jails.

Here is a comprehensive overview of the agreement reached through indirect negotiations in Egypt:

Regarding Hostage and Prisoner Exchanges

According to a source close to Hamas' negotiating team, the militant group will release 20 living hostages simultaneously as part of the deal's initial phase.

Israel has agreed to free approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners: 250 individuals serving life sentences and 1,700 others detained since the conflict began, as confirmed by a senior Hamas official speaking anonymously to AFP.

Israel has not yet disclosed the names of those Palestinian prisoners scheduled for release.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office clarified that the hostage release agreement will only be implemented after receiving cabinet approval, stating: "Contrary to Arab media reports, the 72-hour countdown will commence only after the agreement receives approval in the cabinet meeting, expected in the evening hours."

Of the 251 individuals abducted during Hamas' October 7, 2023 attack that triggered the war, militants continue to hold 47 people in Gaza, including 25 whom the Israeli military has declared deceased.

Prisoner Selection Process

A critical negotiation point was the list of Palestinian prisoners submitted by Hamas for release during the truce's first phase.

According to Egyptian state-linked media, high-profile prisoner Marwan Barghouti – a member of Hamas' rival Fatah movement – is among those Hamas wants released.

Barghouti, sentenced to life imprisonment in 2004 on murder charges and considered a terrorist by Israel, consistently ranks highly in Palestinian leadership popularity polls and is often referred to by supporters as the "Palestinian Mandela."

Humanitarian Aid Provisions

The Hamas source indicated that a minimum of 400 aid trucks will enter Gaza Strip daily during the ceasefire's first five days, with increases planned for subsequent days.

The agreement also enables "the immediate return of displaced persons from southern Gaza Strip to Gaza City and northern areas," according to the same source.

World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that his agency was prepared to "scale up its work to address the dire health needs of patients across Gaza, and to support rehabilitation of the destroyed health system."

The UN Palestinian refugee agency welcomed the agreement as a "huge relief" and confirmed readiness to deliver critically needed food to Gaza, with agency chief Philippe Lazzarini stating on X: "We have enough to provide food for the entire population for the coming three months."

Military Withdrawal Plans

According to the Hamas official, the agreement stipulates "scheduled withdrawals" of Israeli forces and includes "guarantees from President Trump and the mediators."

The Israeli military announced Thursday it was preparing to withdraw troops from Gaza as part of the agreement.

Remaining Uncertainties

Trump's 20-point peace plan, which provided the foundation for indirect negotiations, calls for Hamas disarmament and post-war Gaza governance by a transitional authority headed by Trump himself. However, these points remain unaddressed.

Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas expressed hope that the Gaza deal could lead to establishing an independent Palestinian state, though Netanyahu and his cabinet members have repeatedly vowed to prevent such an outcome.

Next Steps

According to an anonymous source familiar with the agreement, the deal will be formally signed later Thursday in Egypt.

Israel's cabinet will convene Thursday at 1500 GMT to discuss a comprehensive plan for securing the release of all hostages held in Gaza, according to a government statement.

Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has indicated he will vote against the agreement.

A Hamas official stated that negotiations for the ceasefire's second phase would begin "immediately."

The negotiations in Egypt's Sharm El-Sheikh resort are being conducted under tight security at a conference center.

Al-Qahera News, linked to Egypt's state intelligence, broadcast footage showing negotiators from Hamas, Turkey, Qatar, Egypt, and the United States embracing and walking together in positive spirits.

However, Hamas and Israeli delegates were positioned in separate rooms, with mediators moving between them, with no indication that the opposing parties would ever meet directly.