The reports indicate that Hamas agreed to a ceasefire with Israel along with a plan for hostage releases, as broadcast by the television channel Al Arabiya. The arrangement envisions a six-week halt to fighting and outlines a staged release of hostages by Hamas, with the exception of healthy men of military age. Under the terms described, for every Israeli civilian or soldier released, ten Palestinian hostages would be freed. The proposal also mentions the gradual return of displaced residents to areas in the northern Gaza Strip. At the same time, Hamas signaled doubts regarding Israel’s willingness to halt hostilities once the ceasefire period ends. Negotiations in Cairo are expected to refine and confirm the details of the agreement in the near term.
Earlier statements indicate that Hamas rejected Israeli prerequisites for resettling the population in northern Gaza, signaling continued friction over conditions linked to any written settlement. The broader conflict in the Middle East intensified on October 7, when armed militants affiliated with Hamas penetrated Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel was at war, marking a decisive shift in the regional crisis.
The stated objective of Israel’s military operation was to repel the incursion, secure the release of more than 200 hostages—among them foreigners—and dismantle Hamas as a governing force. To pursue these aims, Israel launched extensive rocket barrages into the Gaza Strip from the outset of the operation. Concurrently, Israel’s National Security Council decided to suspend the supply of essential resources, including water, food, goods, electricity, and fuel to the Gaza Strip, a move that raised humanitarian concerns across the affected population.
On November 22, both sides signaled progress toward a humanitarian pause and the release of some hostages, culminating in a formal ceasefire agreement that was signed on November 24 and took effect shortly thereafter. The ceasefire period began on the morning of December 1, during which Hamas asserted that a week of calm would be observed. By that time, reports indicated that 110 hostages remained captives or were being moved under the terms of the accord, underscoring the complex and fragile nature of the deal.
In earlier communications, Netanyahu outlined a post-war settlement framework for Gaza, highlighting the political and security considerations that have driven both sides through the ensuing negotiations. The path to lasting peace remains contingent on mutual concessions, trust-building measures, and mechanisms to address humanitarian needs while ensuring stability in the region. The evolving situation continues to draw scrutiny from international observers and the civilian populations affected by ongoing conflict, with further discussions anticipated in regional diplomacy efforts and multilateral forums. (Source attribution: Al Arabiya)