Peace, please: Israel and Hamas finally agree to a ceasefire and the release of hostages

Source: YOUSSEF ALZANOUN/Getty

The year 2025 is off to a very chaotic start, but it's good news that will certainly go a long way to bringing down some of the fear and anxiety that people face every day.

According to ABCNewsIsrael and Hamas agreed to both a ceasefire and a release of hostages after 15 months of bloodshed in an attempted extermination of an entire people. The agreement was negotiated by Qatar, Egypt and the United States and, while the terms are still being finalized for approval, the Prime Minister of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, felt comfortable enough to announce the end of the attacks.

Starting Sunday, Israeli forces will leave Gaza to make way for aid flown in to help displaced, suffering and desperate Palestinians. In addition, 33 Israeli hostages will be released from captivity as well as a number of Palestinian hostages.

According to the Hamas delegation in Doha, the arrangements agreed to by Hamas include the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip, including the Philadelphia Corridor, in stages, and the handover of 33 Israeli prisoners, dead and alive, in exchange for the release of 1,000 Palestinian prisoners. Negotiations would be completed in stages for the release of the remaining hostages, according to the Hamas delegation.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog supports the ceasefire and has encouraged the government to approve the measure.

“There is no greater moral, human, Jewish or Israeli obligation than to bring our sons and daughters back to us – whether to recover at home or to rest,” he said. -he declared.

President Joe Biden said this is just Phase 1 of the plan to restore peace between the war-torn groups and Phase 2 aims to end the bloody battle for good.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi also issued a statement on the historic achievement via ABCNews:

“With this agreement, I emphasize the importance of accelerating the delivery of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza to address the catastrophic humanitarian crisis, without any hindrance, until lasting peace be achieved through the two-state solution and that the region can enjoy stability, security and development in a world big enough for all”

Source: YOUSSEF ALZANOUN/Getty

There are small details that will be addressed tonight, but ultimately, peace has been achieved and that is something everyone should be happy about, regardless of which “side” you chose.