Israel and Hamas Sign First Stage of Conflict Resolution Plan

Kokcha News Agency – In a significant development, Israel and Hamas have signed the first stage of a plan aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict. U.S. President Donald Trump and Qatar’s Foreign Ministry, which played a key role in mediating the talks, confirmed the agreement.

As part of the deal, Hamas has agreed to release all hostages, while Israel has agreed to withdraw its forces to agreed-upon lines. According to the Israeli news website Ynet, in the first phase, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) will control 53% of the Gaza Strip and withdraw from Gaza City.

Meanwhile, Gaza’s Civil Defense reported several attacks on the region following the announcement of the ceasefire agreement.

Netanyahu’s Amendments to Trump’s Plan:
Media outlets, citing an unnamed diplomat, reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made changes to Trump’s plan for Gaza, which Hamas is unlikely to accept. The diplomat stated, “We are back to discussing the details to make the document more realistic and acceptable to both parties.”

Is a Ceasefire in Gaza Now ‘Inevitable’?
Turkish political analyst Islam Ozkhan told Sputnik that the situation in Gaza, Israel’s military capabilities, and global developments suggest that the Gaza conflict could be resolved in the near future. He noted that negotiations in Sharm El-Sheikh to resolve the Gaza crisis are ongoing, and with statements from Trump and Egypt’s Foreign Minister, progress has been made.

Reasons for the Impending Agreement:

• Trump is seeking an agreement before October 10, hoping to position himself as a Nobel Peace Prize candidate.
• Regional countries have significant influence over Hamas.
• Israel is facing “widespread global pressure,” with anti-Israel sentiments rising worldwide, even in Asian countries.

Outstanding Disputes:
Ozkhan highlighted that the key points of the negotiations revolve around disagreements between Israel and Hamas over the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. He stated, “Israel is proposing a withdrawal to the so-called ‘yellow line,’ while Hamas insists on a complete withdrawal. Additionally, the parties have yet to agree on the release of several Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences in Israel.”

Trump’s Announcement:
Trump stated that negotiations in the Middle East are ongoing and that an agreement is “very close.” He announced plans to visit the region by the end of the week.

Israeli Army Warning:
The Israeli army issued a warning, stating that northern Gaza remains an active war zone, and returning to the area could be extremely dangerous. Avichay Adraee, the Israeli army’s Arabic spokesperson, said in a statement, “Northern Wadi Gaza is still considered an operational area, and IDF forces continue to surround Gaza City.”

UN Secretary-General’s Support:
UN Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the agreement between Hamas and Israel on Trump’s proposed peace plan for Gaza, stating that the UN supports its full implementation. Guterres said, “I appreciate the diplomatic efforts of the United States, Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey in mediating this critical progress.”

Hamas’s Official Statement:
In an official statement released on Thursday, Hamas announced that after “responsible and serious” negotiations with Palestinian resistance factions in Sharm El-Sheikh, centered on Trump’s proposal, an agreement had been reached to end the war in Gaza. The statement emphasized the goal of “stopping the genocidal war against the Palestinian people and the withdrawal of the occupiers from the Gaza Strip.”

Hamas expressed gratitude to the “brotherly and effective efforts” of mediators in Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, as well as U.S. President Donald Trump for his role in reaching this historic agreement. The movement called on all parties to adhere to the terms of the agreement and reaffirmed its commitment to the Palestinian people’s national rights, including freedom, independence, and self-determination.

Netanyahu’s Reaction:
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the agreement with Hamas as “a great day for Israel” and announced that the Israeli cabinet would convene on Friday to formally approve the deal.

Release of Israeli Hostages:
Israel’s Channel 12 reported that, under the new agreement, live hostages will be released on Sunday, while the bodies of deceased hostages will be handed over on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Hamas stated that it had submitted a list of Palestinian prisoners to mediators in accordance with the agreed criteria and is “awaiting finalization of the names” before announcing the final list.