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Gaza, Historic truce agreement and return of hostages: Operation “Derech Eretz”

Israel and Hamas reach ceasefire agreement. Israeli hostages begin to return after 467 days of captivity. The deal, brokered by the US, Qatar and Egypt, marks a turning point in the conflict

Gaza, Historic truce agreement and return of hostages: Operation “Derech Eretz”.

The Gaza Truce Agreement and the Return of Hostages: A New Hope

On January 15, 2025, a historic agreement was reached between Israel and Hamas, calling a truce in Gaza marking the beginning of a new phase in the conflict that has lasted more than fifteen months. The agreement provides for an immediate ceasefire, the beginning of a release of Israeli hostages, and increased humanitarian assistance for Palestinian civilians. The truce will go into effect on Sunday, January 19, 2025, and the first hostages are expected to begin returning home that same day. The United States government, with the help of Qatar and Egypt, played a crucial role in mediating, with intense pressure to achieve this outcome.

“Derech Eretz”: The Return Home

The operation to release the Israeli hostages has been named “Derech Eretz” (The Path of the Land in Hebrew), a term that evokes deep meanings linked to Jewish culture and religion. After 467 days of anguish, in which families of hostages have lived in uncertainty and pain, the path to liberation has finally opened. The initial number of hostages to be released is 33, and all must be alive, with no bodies among those released. The tension is palpable, as families, who have been hoping for a return for months, are now on the brink of a new phase, hoping that their loved ones are still alive.

The first three hostages to be freed are Shiri and her two children, Kfir and Ariel, aged two and five, who represent a powerful symbol of the desire to see the light again after months of captivity. The suffering and anguish of the families have increased with the passing of time, fueling a debilitating wait. The Family Forum, which represented the voices of those awaiting the return of the hostages, asked for respect and media sensitivity in these delicate hours.

International pressure and the role of the United States

International diplomacy played a major role in this agreement. Former US President Donald Trump played a crucial role in facilitating the truce, announcing the agreement in a tweet and publicly claiming credit for the solution. His statement came minutes before Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed Al Thani officially confirmed the agreement. Trump has been putting heavy pressure on Hamas, warning that without a solution, they could face “hell” in the region.

Outgoing US President Joe Biden, while unable to announce the deal himself, acknowledged the importance of the solution, saying the deal would end the fighting in Gaza and reunite families separated by the conflict. Despite the strains in US-Israel relations during the Biden administration, the ceasefire is a major achievement of international diplomacy.

Gaza, Accordo storico per la tregua e ritorno degli ostaggi: L’Operazione “Derech Eretz”

Israel and Hamas' response

In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office kept a low profile in the hours following the announcement, with official statements seeking to clarify misunderstandings that had emerged in the negotiations. Netanyahu stressed that Israel's security remained a priority and that control over some strategic areas, such as the Philadelphia Corridor between Gaza and Egypt, had been maintained.

In Gaza, the agreement was greeted with enthusiasm by thousands of people who celebrated the ceasefire. Hamas, through a statement, rejoiced for the result achieved, considering the truce the fruit of "Palestinian tenacity". In Tel Aviv, the reaction was more subdued, with citizens who, while showing relief, said they were still uncertain about the future. Freedom of movement and the end of captivity are desires shared by many Israeli families, but the future remains uncertain.

The international community expresses optimism

Reactions from the international community have been generally positive. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani described the agreement as an “important step towards peace,” stressing the need to consolidate the ceasefire and continue with diplomacy to achieve lasting stability in the region. European Union Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Šuica welcomed the agreement, expressing relief for the victims of the conflict.

UNRWA, the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees, welcomed the agreement, calling for immediate humanitarian access to alleviate the suffering of the people of Gaza. UNRWA Director Philippe Lazzarini reiterated that the priority now was to ensure uninterrupted humanitarian supplies.

Congratulations from Palazzo Chigi

Italy is ready to do its part, together with European and international partners, for the stabilization and reconstruction of Gaza and to permanently consolidate the cessation of hostilities.

Italy warmly welcomes the announcement of an agreement for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages held by Hamas and congratulates Egypt, Qatar and the United States for the result achieved after a long negotiating effort that the Italian Government – ​​also in its capacity as G7 Presidency – has always supported with conviction.

Italy has closely followed the painful story of the hostages in the hands of Hamas from the beginning and now expects that all the hostages can finally return to their families.

The ceasefire provides an important opportunity to significantly increase humanitarian assistance to the civilian population of Gaza. Italy will continue to engage in this area, including through the “Food for Gaza” initiative focused on food security and health.

Italy is ready to do its part, together with European and international partners, for the stabilization and reconstruction of Gaza and to permanently consolidate the cessation of hostilities, also with a view to relaunching a political process towards a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, based on the two-state solution, with Israel and a State of Palestine living side by side in peace and security, within mutually recognized borders.

Internal Oppositions in Israel

Despite international approval, the deal has also drawn criticism from within Israel. Bezalel Smotrich, Israel's finance minister and a prominent figure on the far right, called the deal "dangerous" for the country's security, announcing that his party would vote against the deal in the Israeli cabinet.

The Gaza War: A Tragic Toll

The conflict that has marked these 15 months has been devastating, with a toll that has exceeded 46.700 victims and over 110.000 wounded, according to data provided by the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health in Gaza. The war operation has seen the assault on Gaza by Israeli forces, air strikes and ground incursions, with a consequent dramatic increase in displaced persons and civilian victims. International diplomacy has tried to mediate, but only with the latest agreement has it been possible to reach a truce that now raises new hope.

The Gaza ceasefire agreement represents a positive step toward ending one of the Middle East's longest and bloodiest conflicts. Although the situation remains uncertain and the details of the agreement are yet to be finalized, the agreement marks an important turning point. Hope that prisoners can return home and that lasting peace can be achieved has never been closer, even if the path remains fraught with difficulties. The world is watching carefully, hoping that this ceasefire can be a first step toward lasting and stable peace.

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