Today such happiness is being seen in Gaza and Israel which perhaps no one had seen in the last two years. The reason for this joy is the announcement which has added a new chapter to the politics of the Middle East. The ceasefire and hostage deal brokered by US President Donald Trump are being welcomed all over the world. Let us tell you that this war has taken more than 67,000 lives so far and has changed the geopolitical structure of this entire region.
If this agreement is fully implemented, it will be the largest peace effort in the history of the Gaza-Israel conflict. Where many previous efforts had failed, this initiative has brought a new flame of hope. Let us tell you that this agreement was announced after indirect talks in Egypt and with it, a festive atmosphere was created among the common citizens, from the streets of Gaza to the squares of Tel Aviv. After the announcement of the ceasefire, a crowd of family members gathered at Tel Aviv’s “Hostage Square”. One mother said, “Our children would not have come back without Trump, we are grateful to him.”
For the people of Gaza, this moment is a rare respite after a long ordeal. Children’s laughter is now returning to bomb-ravaged streets, while hostage families in Israel are lighting candles awaiting the return of their loved ones. But there is also a deep understanding on both sides that the ceasefire is only the beginning—real peace is only possible when justice, respect and security are equal. According to media reports, people in Gaza’s southern city of Khan Yunis said that thank God the bloodshed had stopped. Not only us, the whole of Gaza, all the Arabs and people around the world are happy with this peace.” Similar sentiments were seen in Israel, where hostage families burst firecrackers and heaved a sigh of relief.
Yet, behind this happiness lies a deep shadow of uncertainty. Let us tell you that this is only the first phase of Trump’s 20-point “peace framework”, the detailed outline of which has not been revealed yet. Late Wednesday night, Trump wrote on ‘Truth Social’: “Both Israel and Hamas have approved the first phase of our peace agreement. This means that all hostages will be released soon and Israel will withdraw its forces to the agreed line.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed it as a “diplomatic success and national moral victory.” He says all hostages will return to their homes and the agreement is the first step toward a “strong, lasting and lasting peace.” It is also a political achievement for Trump as he had promised during the election campaign that he would bring peace to both the Gaza and Ukraine conflicts.
But even with this morning of ceasefire, many questions remain unanswered. Like- who will handle the administrative system in Gaza after the war? What will be the future of Hamas? Will he give up his weapons or will his resistance continue until the presence of Israeli forces? The answers to these questions will determine the sustainability of this “peace” in the coming weeks.
On the other hand, Hamas has also said in its statement that this agreement is “the fruit of the sacrifices of our people” and that it will not give up the fight for its “national rights, freedom and self-determination” until the Palestinian independent state is established.
On the other hand, according to the Gaza administration, more than 67,000 people have been killed since October 7, 2023, and the entire area has been reduced to rubble. According to Israeli figures, 1,200 civilians were killed and 251 were taken hostage to Gaza. Of these, 20 are still alive. It is now expected that the release of the surviving hostages will begin in the next 72 hours.
Let us also tell you that in the next phase of Trump’s plan, the administrative supervision of Gaza will be done by an international body, which will also include Trump himself and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. However, Arab countries have made clear that the ultimate goal of any peace plan must be an independent Palestinian state—something Netanyahu vehemently rejects.
However, today there is happiness in both Gaza and Israel, but this happiness is still incomplete. This is a sigh of relief, not victory. Because the real victory of any war is when it never returns again. This agreement has given the same message to both the people that dialogue can replace bloodshed, if the political will is true. This spark of peace rising from the ashes of war may be small, but it is the first true morning after the longest night in the Middle East.