Citizens of Gaza celebrate as ceasefire agreement finally reached. Credit: Farid Khan, Twitter.
Israel and Hamas finally reached an agreement for both the ceasefire and the release of hostages held captive as part of a long and destructive war that caused chaos in Israel and Palestine, and saw over 46,000 fatalities.
The Prime Minister of Qatar and Foreign Minister Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani met separately with Hamas and Israeli negotiators to come to a conclusion, which will mean captives are to be released, and importantly, attacks on Gaza will finally come to a halt.
As citizens in both Israel and Palestine rejoice and celebrate the long-awaited news, many are thanking American governments for their efforts in achieving this relieving result for citizens.
Trump and Biden seen as highly influential in ceasefire agreement progressions
Donald Trump, ahead of his January 20 inauguration as President of the United States, had warned “there will be hell to pay” if hostages were not released in Hamas by the time he officially begins his work as America’s leader.
Speaking on Truth Social, a social media platform, Trump wrote: “We have a deal for the hostages in the Middle East. They will be released shortly.”
The various teams of Trump and current and outgoing President Joe Biden were present during the negotiations that allowed a ceasefire and the release of hostages to give citizens of Palestine and Israel renewed hope that the devastating war will finally come to an end.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the proposed deal was based on the framework implemented by Biden’s administration team back in May.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar also thanked American officials for their efforts in helping to achieve a ceasefire. The deal “looks much better than previously”, he told media outlet Reuters on Monday, January 13. He added: “I want to thank our American friends for the huge efforts they are investing to secure a hostage deal.”
Mediators in Qatar drafted final ceasefire deal with long negotiations taking months to finalise
Mediators in Qatar presented their final draft of the deal to both sides of the conflict, including bosses of Israel spy agency Mossad, on Monday.
The deal has taken months to come to a positive conclusion for all, as a key sticking point that Hamas’ demand for a full hostage release by Gaza based military groups must result in full Israeli military withdrawal and put an end to the war. Israeli leaders fought back that the Gaza campaign must continue until Hamas is dismantled, resulting in complex progressions and negotiations.
Hamas planned their initial attack in October 2023 that saw some 1,200 Israelis killed and 253 taken hostage. A war then erupted between Israeli and Palestinian states, with the relentless attack of the Israeli military on the Gaza strip killing tens of thousands and causing carnage to communities, in a bloodshed period of time many will be wishing to forget.
Hope is restored however, as it appears the end of the war is now in sight.
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