Cease fire in Gaza - The New York Times

Almost as soon as the war in Gaza began, world leaders began working to end it. For more than 15 months, Israel and Hamas have rejected peace proposals. During that time, tens of thousands of Palestinians were killed. Israeli families weep over loved ones held hostage in Gaza. And the people of the world were against the war.

Yesterday, Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire. As part of a six-week ceasefire, Israel will withdraw from the Gaza Strip and free hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Hamas will release a third of its hostages. Officials hope the ceasefire will pave the way for a lasting peace, but it will depend on whether the two sides resolve more pressing issues later.

The Israeli government still has to ratify the agreement, but officials have taken it as complete. “We offer the next team a real opportunity for a brighter future in the Middle East,” President Biden said, referring to the incoming administration of Donald Trump. “I hope they take it.”

What is in the contract?

The ceasefire will take effect on Sunday. Hamas will release 33 hostages in six weeks. They include women, children, men over 50 and the sick or injured. There are about 100 hostages in Gaza, although about 35 are believed to be dead.

In exchange, Israel will release around 1,000 Palestinian prisoners. It must also allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza. After a week, Israel will withdraw its forces from the most populated area in the region.

There is still one big problem: some details are vague. “In order to convince both sides to sign, negotiators have crafted a program that is so transparent that some of its elements are unsolvable, meaning it could easily collapse,” writes Patrick Kingsley, my colleague from Jerusalem.

Why now?

A lasting ceasefire has remained elusive since hostilities began on October 7, 2023. (One truce in 2023 lasted a week.) Three main issues have led the two sides to reach an agreement:

1. Israel’s success: Almost a year and a half after the war, Israel has weakened its enemies in the region. It killed many of Hamas’ fighters and leaders, including the group’s long-time chief in Gaza. This destroyed most of Hezbollah in Lebanon. Iran, which supports Hamas and Hezbollah, has also suffered losses, notably the fall of the allied regime in Syria. With these victories, another attack like the one on October 7 is less likely, achieving one of Israel’s goals in the war.

2. The efforts of the two presidents: Biden and Trump pressured Israel and Hamas to reach an agreement before the end of Biden’s term. Biden sees the ceasefire as an important part of his legacy. Trump wants to avoid such difficult issues as president. The two presidential teams worked together to negotiate, and the final agreement fully followed the framework proposed by Biden in the spring. (My colleague Peter Baker has written about collective efforts here.)

3. Domestic Pressure: In Israel, critics of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu say he has not done enough to free the hostages. In Gaza, Palestinians have grown frustrated with Hamas and are demanding peace as the humanitarian crisis caused by the war worsens. These pressures have pushed Israeli and Palestinian leaders to negotiate.

What’s next?

The Israeli government is likely to confirm the agreement today. When it comes into effect on Sunday, both parties must fulfill their promises. If they don’t, the truce could fall apart and the war could start again.

If the truce holds, negotiators plan to reach a more permanent peace deal within the next six weeks. The terms of a possible deal are still unknown, although Israel’s support could be contingent on the release of all remaining hostages. These negotiations will take place under Trump.

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