Rounds of celebratory gunfire rang into the night sky and people cried tears of joy and disbelief on Thursday as news of a peace deal reached those in devastated Gaza – and in Israel, where relatives have anxiously awaited the release of hostages detained since the war broke out two years ago.
“It’s a huge day, huge joy,” exclaimed Ahmed Sheheiber, a displaced Palestinian, crying over the phone from his shelter in Gaza City as he learned of the deal. In the coastal area of Al-Mawasi, people gathered to chant “Allahu Akbar” and fire celebratory rounds into the air.
What had initially appeared an improbable 21-point peace plan put forward by US president Donald Trump was on Thursday agreed to in its “initial phase” by Israel and Hamas after days of indirect talks in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm El Sheikh. The news could not come soon enough for families in Israel who for two years have lobbied and prayed for their relatives taken hostage by Hamas on 7 October 2023 to be released.
On the streets of Tel Aviv, tearful families hugged, cheered, and some popped champagne. “Matan is coming home. These are the tears I prayed for,” said one mother of an Israeli hostage. Some gathered in the city’s hostage square called for a “Nobel prize to Trump” for his role in brokering the deal.
As part of the agreement, Hamas said it would release the 20 hostages still alive as early as this weekend, with sources saying an exchange with Palestinian prisoners would happen within 72 hours of the deal being signed. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu described it as a “great day of Israel”, saying: “With God’s help, we will bring them all home.”
Even as initial celebrations unfolded, details of the agreement remained unclear, including whether the parties had made progress on thornier questions about the future of the conflict, such as whether Hamas will demilitarise and how the war-torn territory will be governed.
