A senior Hamas official declared Thursday that the militant group has agreed to a ceasefire deal with Israel, paving the way for the release of all remaining hostages this Saturday. Khalil al-Hayya, now the top surviving leader of the organization, made the announcement amid reports of a broader agreement brokered by President Donald Trump.
“I am pleased to announce that we have reached a deal for ceasefire to put an end to the aggression and also to proceed to a permanent ceasefire and a withdrawal of the army and to allow the aids to enter into Gaza and to open the Rafah crossing from both sides,” al-Hayya stated in a video message.
The deal calls for Israeli forces to pull back from Gaza, the entry of humanitarian aid, and the freeing of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the hostages. Hamas still holds 48 individuals, many captured during the October 7, 2023, attacks that killed around 1,200 people and sparked the conflict. Israel’s cabinet ratified the plan early Friday, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu describing it as a “moral victory” despite pushback from hardliners in his coalition.
This breakthrough comes after relentless Israeli operations that eliminated key Hamas figures, including Yahya Sinwar in October 2024, his brother Muhammad in May 2025, and others like Ismail Haniyeh and Mohammed Deif earlier in the war. These strikes decimated the group’s leadership, leaving al-Hayya as the de facto head.
President Trump played a central role in mediating the accord through envoys, with support from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey. He plans to visit the region Sunday to oversee initial steps, calling it a stride toward lasting stability. Yet questions linger about why a similar framework—offering hostage releases in exchange for ending hostilities—was reportedly available a year ago but stalled under the previous administration. Some insiders suggest Biden officials hesitated, allowing the bloodshed to drag on unnecessarily while tens of thousands perished in Gaza.
The agreement’s first phase includes a 72-hour window for exchanges, starting with all living hostages and the remains of others, alongside Israel’s partial withdrawal and the release of up to 2,000 Palestinian detainees. Hamas claims U.S. guarantees that the war is over for good, though skeptics warn the group could regroup if enforcement falters.
As aid convoys prepare to roll in and families on both sides await reunions, the deal offers a rare glimmer of hope after two years of devastation. But with Hamas’s track record of broken promises and Iran’s shadow influence, true peace may require vigilant oversight to prevent another cycle of terror.
