On the evening of October 9, in a speech broadcast live from Gaza, Mr. Khalil al-Hayya - Hamas' deputy political leader - declared: "The war in Gaza has ended. All sides confirm that the war has completely ended.
According to Mr. al-Hayya, the peace plan proposed by US President Donald Trump will pave the way for a long-term and comprehensive ceasefire, marking a historic turning point after 2 bloody years.
The Hamas leader affirmed that the movement had responsiblely approached the US Presidents proposal and responded to prevent further blood spills. He said Hamas had received assurance from the US and intermediaries that the fighting would not recur after the deal was reached.
According to al-Hayya, the agreement reached in Sharm el-Sheikh (Egypt) includes the following main terms: Permanent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas; reopening the Rafah border gate, the life-and-death route connecting Gaza to Egypt; receiving large-scale humanitarian aid to Gaza; exchanging prisoners and hostages, in which Israel will release thousands of Palestinians in captivity.
He stressed that Hamas will coordinate with all ethnic and religious forces to carry out the next steps within the framework of the agreement.
Meanwhile, the Israeli cabinet is still voting to approve the peace plan, with a clear division in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said he would withdraw from the ruling coalition if Hamas was allowed to continue control of Gaza, calling the release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Israeli hostages an unacceptable price.
If the plan is approved, Israeli forces will withdraw troops to a designated border within 24 hours, still maintaining control of about 53% of Gaza.
Hamas will release all surplus hostages within 72 hours of Israel ratifying the deal. In return, Tel Aviv will release 250 prisoners sentenced to life in prison and 1,700 Gazans detained since 2023, including all women and minors.
Israel said the Palestinian armed group still held about 48 hostages, of which only about 20 are believed to be alive.
The war between Israel and Hamas began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas gunmen attacked Israeli territory, killing about 1,200 people and holding 250 hostages.
Israel's military response has since leveled much of the Gaza Strip, killing more than 67,000 Palestinians and leaving millions homeless, according to local health agencies.
If implemented, the Sharm el-Sheikh deal sponsored by President Trump could mark the end of one of the bloodiest and most persistent conflicts of the 21st century, and open up opportunities for reconstruction for the devastated Gaza region after the war.
