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Israel, Hamas Agree to Gaza War Pause 10/09 06:11
Israel and Hamas have agreed to a pause in their devastating two-year war
and the release of the remaining hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners
-- a breakthrough greeted with joy and relief Thursday but also caution.
CAIRO (AP) -- Israel and Hamas have agreed to a pause in their devastating
two-year war and the release of the remaining hostages in exchange for
Palestinian prisoners -- a breakthrough greeted with joy and relief Thursday
but also caution.
Uncertainty remains about some of the thornier aspects of the plan advanced
by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump -- such as whether and how
Hamas will disarm, and who will govern Gaza. But the sides appear closer than
they have been in months to ending a war that has killed tens of thousands of
Palestinians, reduced much of Gaza to rubble, brought famine to parts of the
territory, and triggered other conflicts across the Middle East.
The war, which began with Hamas' deadly attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023,
has also sparked worldwide protests and led to allegations of genocide that
Israel denies.
Even with the agreement expected to be signed in Egypt later in the day,
Israeli strikes continued, with explosions seen Thursday in northern Gaza.
There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.
An Israeli military official who spoke on the condition of anonymity in line
with military guidelines said that Israel was continuing to hit targets that
posed a threat to its troops as they reposition.
In the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, celebrations were relatively muted
and often colored by grief.
"I am happy and unhappy. We have lost a lot of people and lost loved ones,
friends and family. We lost our homes," said Mohammad Al-Farra. "Despite our
happiness, we cannot help but think of what is to come. ... The areas we are
going back to, or intending to return to, are uninhabitable."
In Tel Aviv, families of the remaining hostages popped champagne and cried
tears of joy after Trump announced on social media late Wednesday that "ALL of
the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops
to an agreed upon line."
On Thursday, thousands of observant Jews streamed into Jerusalem's Old City
to mark the holiday of Sukkot, with extra rejoicing for the upcoming hostage
release.
"We were screaming and singing last night," said Hindel Berman, a New Jersey
resident who came to Jerusalem for the holiday. "We never, never, never gave up
hope."
Under the terms, Hamas intends to release all 20 living hostages in a matter
of days, while the Israeli military will begin a withdrawal from the majority
of Gaza, people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press on condition
of anonymity to discuss details of an agreement that has not fully been made
public.
"With God's help we will bring them all home," Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu proclaimed on social media.
Netanyahu plans to convene his Security Cabinet late Thursday to approve the
ceasefire, and the entire parliament will then meet to approve the release of
Palestinian prisoners.
The deal will include a list of prisoners to be released and maps for the
first phase of an Israeli withdrawal to new positions in Gaza, according to two
Egyptian officials briefed on the talks, a Hamas official and another official.
Israel will publish the list of the prisoners -- and victims of their
attacks have 24 hours to lodge objections.
The withdrawal could start as soon as Thursday evening, said the officials,
who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to be
publicly named speaking about the negotiations.
The hostage and prisoner releases are expected to begin Monday, the
officials from Egypt and Hamas said, though the other official said they could
occur as early as Sunday night.
Five border crossings would reopen, including the Rafah crossing between
Gaza and Egypt, allowing 400 trucks in the initial days and increasing to 600
trucks after that, the Egyptian and Hamas officials said.
Trump is expected in the region in the coming days.
Far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who has opposed
previous ceasefire deals, said he had "mixed emotions."
While he welcomed the return of the hostages, he said he had "immense fear
about the consequences of emptying the jails and releasing the next generation
of terrorist leaders" and said that as soon as the hostages are returned,
Israel must continue trying to eradicate Hamas and ensure Gaza is demilitarized.
Hamas, meanwhile, called on Trump and the mediators to ensure that Israel
implements "without disavowal or delay" the troop withdrawal, the entry of aid
into Gaza and the exchange of prisoners.
Trump's peace plan
The Trump plan calls for an immediate ceasefire and release of the 48
hostages that militants in Gaza still hold from their attack on Israel two
years ago. Some 1,200 people were killed by Hamas-led militants in that
assault, and 251 were taken hostage. Israel believes around 20 of the hostages
are still alive.
Under the plan, Israel would maintain an open-ended military presence inside
Gaza, along its border with Israel. An international force, comprised largely
of troops from Arab and Muslim countries, would be responsible for security
inside Gaza. The U.S. would lead a massive internationally funded
reconstruction effort in Gaza.
The plan also envisions an eventual role for the Palestinian Authority --
something Netanyahu has long opposed. But it requires the authority, which
administers parts of the West Bank, to undergo a sweeping reform program that
could take years to implement.
The Trump plan is even more vague about a future Palestinian state, which
Netanyahu firmly rejects.
More than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza and nearly 170,000
wounded during the war, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which doesn't
differentiate between civilians and combatants but says around half of the
deaths were women and children. The ministry is part of the Hamas-run
government, and the United Nations and many independent experts consider its
figures to be the most reliable estimate of wartime casualties.
Relief at a deal
Even with many details yet to be agreed, many expressed relief at the
progress.
In Tel Aviv, joyful relatives of hostages and their supporters spilled into
the central square that has become the main gathering point in the effort to
free the captives.
Einav Zangauker, the mother of Israeli captive Matan Zangauker and a
prominent advocate for the hostages' release, told reporters that she wants to
tell her son she loves him.
"If I have one dream, it is seeing Matan sleep in his own bed," she said.
From the central Gaza city of Deir al-Balah, Alaa Abd Rabbo called the
announcement "a godsend."
"This is the day we have been waiting for," said Abd Rabbo, who was
originally from northern Gaza but was forced to move multiple times during the
war. "We want to go home."
This would be the third ceasefire since the start of the war. The previous
two also saw hostages and prisoners exchanged. Israel ended the most recent
ceasefire, which started in January, with a surprise bombardment in March.
Ayman Saber, a Palestinian from Khan Younis, said he plans to return to his
home city and try to rebuild his house, which was destroyed last year by an
Israeli strike.
"I will rebuild the house, we will rebuild Gaza," he said.
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