The first phase of the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli regime begins

The beginning of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli regime is a fragile step towards peace in Gaza and a test for lasting peace.

While the Gaza Strip has been embroiled in one of the bloodiest conflicts in decades for more than a year, multiple sources have reported that the first phase of the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli regime will begin next week. According to a report by Al-Sharq TV and confirmed by international media outlets including Reuters, the Associated Press, and the Guardian, the agreement will enter into force after being officially signed on Thursday.

According to sources familiar with the negotiations, the first phase of the agreement includes the following key items:

• Complete cessation of military operations in the Gaza Strip and establishment of a nationwide ceasefire.
• Prisoner exchange between the two sides, including the release of 20 Israeli prisoners in exchange for 250 Palestinian prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment and 1,700 detainees after Operation "Al-Aqsa Storm."
• A gradual and phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from designated areas in Gaza.
• The arrival of humanitarian aid and the opening of the Rafah crossing to transfer the wounded to Egypt.

The American network CBS reported, citing a White House official, that the draft agreement will be presented to the Israeli cabinet for approval on Thursday, and if it is approved, "the regime will be obligated to withdraw from the designated areas within less than 24 hours." The official added that after the approval, a 72-hour countdown will begin, and the process of releasing the prisoners is expected to begin on Monday.

Al-Sharq sources stressed that the implementation of the agreement will begin at the beginning of next week, and negotiations on the second phase will proceed in parallel. According to these sources, the withdrawals will be "limited and phased" and will be coordinated with the process of prisoner exchanges and the delivery of humanitarian aid.

In this regard, the Hamas movement announced: "Within the framework of the ongoing agreement to stop the war and end the aggression against the Palestinian people in Gaza, the list of Palestinian prisoners has been submitted to the mediating parties in accordance with the agreed criteria."

An informed Palestinian source also stated: "Among those released are a number of prominent and well-known captive leaders, and the final list of names will be finalized after the implementation of the agreement begins."

According to a Hamas commander, during the first five days of the ceasefire, at least 400 truckloads of food, medicine, and aid will enter the Gaza Strip daily. This number is expected to increase in the following days.

The agreement also includes the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Rafah crossing, allowing it to be fully opened in both directions and allowing the wounded to be transferred to Egypt for treatment. Bassem Naim, a member of the Hamas political bureau, stressed that the goal of the agreement is “a complete cessation of hostilities, the release of prisoners, and the immediate facilitation of the entry of humanitarian aid.”

According to the Associated Press, the United States will send about 200 military personnel to Israel to support and monitor the implementation of the agreement. These forces will not enter Gaza directly, but they will be tasked with monitoring the implementation of the agreement's provisions, particularly in the areas of prisoner exchanges and the delivery of humanitarian aid.

Washington also announced that it considers the ceasefire "a first step towards achieving lasting peace," but at the same time emphasized that its success depends on full commitment from both sides.

Despite the cautious optimism, analysts warn about the durability of the ceasefire. “Any breach of the agreement in the early hours could derail the process of rebuilding trust,” the Guardian reported.

On the other hand, some Israeli sources announced that some forces may remain on Gaza's northern borders for "security monitoring," an issue that could lead to renewed tension.

If the first phase is successful, negotiations will begin for a second phase of the ceasefire, which would likely include a full withdrawal of Israeli forces and the start of reconstruction in the Gaza Strip. Egypt and Qatar will also continue their mediation role in this phase. Despite hopes for stability, experts have warned that without a clear political plan for the future of Gaza and a Palestinian state, any agreement will be temporary.

The start of the first phase of the ceasefire between Hamas and the Israeli regime can be seen as a critical point in the long and challenging path to peace in the Middle East. While the agreement has brought new hope to millions of civilians in Gaza, its sustainability requires confidence-building, effective international monitoring, and a real will to end the war.

As a Lebanese analyst put it in an interview with Al-Sharq, "Although the ceasefire in Gaza is not the end of the war, it may be the beginning of a new understanding of the necessity of peace."