After two years of anguish, Israel celebrates a breakthrough deal promising the return of all hostages within days — a moment seen as the fulfillment of Netanyahu’s vow and Trump’s audacious peace initiative, yet shadowed by uncertainty. Today formal approval is expected followed by return of all hostages by Sunday or Monday.
For the first time in two years, since the horror of October 7 2023, Israelis awoke to a sunrise tinted with hope. An agreement has been reached on the first stage of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire and hostage-release plan, marking what many describe as a moment of historic catharsis — perhaps even redemption. The deal promises the long-awaited return of all Israeli hostages, a national prayer uttered daily since that black Sabbath morning when they were dragged into Gaza.
Across the country, tears of disbelief flowed in living rooms and town squares. The atmosphere at Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square was electric. “It feels like the dream we hardly dared to imagine is coming true,” one mother said, clutching a photograph of her son still believed to be held in Gaza. “We’ve waited two years. We’ve prayed. Now maybe it’s happening.”
The Promise of Return
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s voice cracked with emotion as he addressed the nation:
“With God’s help, we will bring them all home. With the approval of the first phase of this plan, all our hostages will be brought home. This is a diplomatic success and a national and moral victory for the State of Israel.”
His words resonated deeply, echoing the vow that has defined his leadership since the war began. For Netanyahu — who staked his premiership on the dual pledges of total victory over Hamas and the safe return of every captive — this is the moment of reckoning.
In Washington, Donald Trump announced triumphantly:
“I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first phase of our Peace Plan. This means that all of the hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their troops to an agreed-upon line as the first steps toward a strong, durable, and everlasting peace. All parties will be treated fairly.”
The former president praised the mediators — Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey — who helped close the gap between Israel and Hamas, calling the breakthrough “a testament to courage and vision on both sides.”
From Hamas: A Calculated Concession
In Gaza, Hamas officials confirmed the agreement while stressing that the arrangement aligns with their own conditions. “Negotiators have exchanged lists of prisoners and hostages,” said senior Hamas spokesman Taher al-Nounou. “The movement has expressed optimism about reaching a deal that meets the aspirations of our people.”
Fawzi Barhoum, another Hamas representative, said the organization’s delegation “is working to overcome all obstacles to reaching an agreement that meets the aspirations of our people in Gaza.” In a formal statement following the announcement, Hamas declared:
“We affirm that the sacrifices of our people will not be in vain, and that we will remain true to our pledge — never abandoning our people’s national rights until freedom, independence, and self-determination are achieved.”
Behind the rhetoric lies a political reality. Hamas, devastated by months of Israeli pressure, is facing immense strain. Its leadership seeks to preserve its grip while preventing total collapse. The agreement allows it to claim victory of endurance — survival in the face of overwhelming force.
What the Deal Entails
The first stage reportedly includes:
- The release of all Israeli hostages, both living and deceased, in exchange for approximately 1,700 Palestinian prisoners.
- A phased Israeli withdrawal from most of Gaza, repositioning along a defined security corridor.
- An immediate ceasefire with humanitarian aid permitted to flow freely under international supervision.
- The establishment of a joint U.S.-Egyptian-Qatari monitoring mechanism to ensure compliance.
Implementation is to begin within days of cabinet ratification. The hostage releases could start as early as Saturday, with Israeli troops beginning to pull back from central Gaza sectors at the same time.
The Open Questions
But for all the euphoria, deep uncertainties remain. Will Hamas truly surrender its arms? Who will govern Gaza during the transition? And can the ceasefire hold in a territory so saturated with weaponry, tunnels, and grief?
The Israeli war cabinet remains divided on sequencing. Some generals insist on proof that Hamas’s operational units have been dismantled before full withdrawal. Others argue that the humanitarian and diplomatic dividends outweigh the risks of delay.
Internationally, the focus now shifts to “Phase Two” — the disarmament and political transition of Gaza. Washington envisions a technocratic administration backed by regional partners. Israel insists that no armed faction hostile to it can ever again control the Strip. The coming weeks will test whether those positions can coexist.
But as senior correspondent Amit Segal observed, there may never be a Phase Two.
Many Risks and Events Could Derail the “Big Dream”
Despite the jubilant headlines, senior officials warn that the path ahead is precarious. A single violation — a rogue rocket, a failed delivery, a mistrustful delay — could unravel the fragile trust just forged. Some hostages remain unaccounted for, their condition unknown. If even one life is lost before the process concludes, the public mood could shift from exultation to fury overnight.
Within Hamas, hardliners resent any concession that could be interpreted as surrender. Within Israel, bereaved families demand both the return of loved ones and the eradication of those responsible. As one senior Israeli officer said privately, “If Hamas re-arms while we pull back, this deal will have bought quiet at the price of future war.”
A Moment of Fulfillment
Still, few can deny the magnitude of this moment. For the first time since the horrors of October 7, Israelis are daring to imagine closure. The emotional symmetry — a hostage-return agreement almost exactly two years to the day after their abduction — is overwhelming.
At the foot of Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square, candles flickered beside a sign reading simply: “They are coming home.”
Whether this fragile peace holds or fractures, Israel today stands on the threshold of the promise it has repeated for two years — a promise embodied in Netanyahu’s words and fulfilled, for now, by the world’s intervention: to bring them home.
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