Egyptian security sources confirmed that coordination is underway to open the Rafah crossing to allow international aid to support the people of the Gaza Strip and improve their living conditions. High-level sources also indicated Egypt's readiness to bring in as much humanitarian aid as possible into the Strip.

According to informed sources, the first phase of the agreement extends to 42 days, and includes the return of the displaced to their homes without hindrance, especially in the areas of northern Gaza. On the seventh day of the first phase, freedom of movement will be allowed for residents in all areas of the Strip, and humanitarian aid will enter via Rashid Street starting from the first day.

The terms of the agreement also stipulate the withdrawal of the occupation forces from several areas, with the withdrawal taking place gradually from the center of the Gaza Strip, including the Netzarim axis and the Kuwait Roundabout axis east of Salah al-Din Road, on the twenty-second day of the first phase.

On the seventh day, Israeli military sites and installations in the Rashid Street area will be dismantled, with forces withdrawing completely from the street east of Salah al-Din.

These efforts come within the framework of working to alleviate the suffering of the residents of the Strip and support the restoration of stability in Gaza.

US President-elect Donald Trump announced today, Wednesday, via his platform "Truth Social", that an agreement had been reached to release hostages in the Middle East.

While there has been no official announcement from the Biden administration regarding the Gaza ceasefire, Trump celebrated on his social media platform Truth Social: “We have a deal on the hostages in the Middle East and they will be released soon... Thank you.”

“This epic ceasefire agreement was only possible as a result of our historic victory in November, which signaled to the entire world that my Administration would pursue peace and negotiate deals to ensure the safety of all Americans and our allies,” Trump wrote. “I am very pleased that the American and Israeli hostages will be returning home to be reunited with their families and loved ones.”

“With this agreement in place, my National Security Team, through the efforts of Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff, will continue to work closely with Israel and our allies to ensure that Gaza never again becomes a safe haven for terrorists. We will continue to advance peace through strength throughout the region, while building on the momentum of this ceasefire to extend the historic Abraham Accords. This is just the beginning of great things to come for America, and indeed the world!”

The US President-elect noted, "We have accomplished so much even without being in the White House. Just imagine all the wonderful things that will happen when I return to the White House."

An informed official told Reuters today that Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire in Gaza and an exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, paving the way for a possible end to the 15-month war that has turned the Middle East upside down.

The official revealed that Qatar, Egypt and the US are guaranteeing the implementation of the agreement, noting that all living hostages will be released first, followed by the remains of the dead hostages. He added: "Hamas will release the hostages over a period of six weeks, three hostages each week and the rest before the end of the period."

During months of on-again, off-again talks to broker a truce in the devastating 15-month war, both sides have said they were close to a ceasefire only to run into last-minute snags. The outlines of the current deal have been in place since mid-2024.

Reuters quoted an informed official as providing new details about the release of Palestinian prisoners and detainees, while Al-Araby Al-Jadeed learned this evening, Wednesday, from informed sources that the handover of Israeli prisoners will begin 3 days after the start of the implementation of the ceasefire.

Below are parts of the agreement as published by Reuters:

The agreement between Israel and Hamas includes a six-week ceasefire that will see a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from central Gaza and the return of displaced Palestinians to the north of the Strip.

Hamas will release 33 Israeli hostages, including all women (female soldiers and civilians), children and men over the age of 50.

Hamas will release female hostages and youth under 19 first, then men over 50.

All living Israeli detainees will be released first, followed by the remains of the slain detainees.

Israel will release all Palestinian women and children under the age of 19 detained since October 7, 2023 by the end of the first phase.

The third phase is expected to include the return of all remaining bodies and the start of the reconstruction of Gaza under the supervision of Egypt, Qatar and the United Nations.

Sources told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that the handover of Israeli prisoners will begin 3 days after the ceasefire begins.

Meanwhile, Hebrew media outlets, including the Hebrew Walla website and Channel 12, reported, citing American sources, on Wednesday evening, that a deal had been reached between Hamas and the Israeli occupation state to cease fire in Gaza. The Walla website quoted an unnamed senior American official as saying that "a deal had been reached to release the abductees (Israeli detainees) and a ceasefire in Gaza." The Hebrew Channel 12 website quoted a senior American source as saying that "a deal had been reached." The same channel, in addition to other Israeli media outlets, reported that unnamed senior Israeli officials confirmed that Hamas had agreed to the agreement.

An Israeli source told Haaretz that “the crisis with Hamas has been resolved,” after a senior political source claimed earlier today that the movement had “at the last minute” presented new demands regarding the Salah al-Din (Philadelphi) corridor, contrary to the maps approved by the Israeli Security Cabinet and American mediators, and that “Israel strongly opposes any change in these maps.”

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister of the occupation government, Benjamin Netanyahu, is expected to hold a cabinet session tomorrow morning, Thursday, to ratify the deal, and then a government session to approve it as well. This will be followed by publishing a list of the names of the Palestinian prisoners included in the deal to the public, and allowing it to be appealed against in the Supreme Court, in a procedural step.

Thousands of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip celebrated on Wednesday the news of a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement that is supposed to end the Israeli war that has been ongoing for more than 15 months on the besieged Strip.

Thousands of Palestinians took to the streets in several areas of the Gaza Strip, chanting "God is Great, Truce, Truce," while cars honked their horns.

Five citizens were killed when the occupation forces bombed two houses in Jenin on Wednesday evening.

The Shin Bet and the occupation army announced in a statement that they had carried out a raid on Jenin camp.

According to local sources, the occupation army bombed two houses in the Damj neighborhood in Jenin camp.

The Ministry of Health announced that the number of dead in the bombing of the two houses had risen to 5, after the Red Crescent crews had announced that their crews had dealt with 3 martyrs and 2 critical injuries.

An Egyptian source reported on Wednesday evening that the mediators, Egypt, Qatar and the United States, had reached an agreement in the Gaza Strip that "ends the suffering of the Palestinian people."

This came according to what was reported by the Cairo News Channel, which is close to the Egyptian authorities, from a source described as "informed."

The same source said: "An agreement was reached to end the suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza through the efforts of the mediators after hours of hard work," without further details.

He pointed out that a joint statement will be issued "soon" regarding the ceasefire agreement in Gaza.

In the same vein, Hebrew media quoted a senior American official, without naming him, as saying that "a deal has been reached to release the kidnapped (Israeli prisoners) and cease fire in Gaza."

On Tuesday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and his American counterpart Joe Biden stressed, during a phone call, “the importance of the concerned parties’ commitment to overcoming obstacles and showing the necessary flexibility to reach an agreement (on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip),” according to a statement from the Egyptian presidency.

On Monday, the Qatari Emiri Diwan reported in a statement that the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, received a phone call from the US President, during which they "discussed joint mediation efforts to end the war on the Strip, in addition to regional and international developments of common interest."

Doha is currently hosting mediation negotiations between Israel and Hamas, while Qatar, Egypt and the United States have been seeking for about a year to conclude a truce deal in the Strip amid repeated Israeli obstacles.

On Tuesday, Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari announced in a press conference that the ceasefire negotiations in the Gaza Strip are in the "final details," stressing that they are at the closest point to announcing an agreement.

Over the past weeks, mediators have intensified their efforts to hold indirect meetings between Hamas and Israel, which has led to "significant progress in the negotiations," with the details of the deal now 90 percent complete, according to Hebrew media.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar cut short a visit to Hungary on Wednesday to take part in a government vote on an upcoming Gaza ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal, Hebrew media reported.

Channel 12, a private Hebrew channel, said: "In light of the progress of negotiations regarding the agreement to release the kidnapped (Israeli prisoners), Foreign Minister Sa'ar cut short his diplomatic visit to Hungary, which was scheduled to continue on Thursday."

She added: "Sa'ar is scheduled to return to Israel tonight (Wednesday) to participate in the discussions and expected vote in the government and the cabinet (the security and political cabinet)."

This comes amid anticipation of the announcement of an agreement on Gaza that would end the Israeli war of extermination on the Strip, which has entered its 16th consecutive month.

Hamas said in a brief statement on Wednesday evening that it had delivered its response to the ceasefire agreement proposal to the mediators, stressing that it had dealt "with all responsibility and positivity, based on its responsibility towards our steadfast and patient people in the Strip."

For many months, Netanyahu has obstructed the achievement of this agreement, by proposing new conditions or reneging on previous understandings, at a time when Israel continues its war of genocide on Gaza without respite.

The current negotiations on the agreement have witnessed significant progress following intense pressure exerted by Steve Witkoff, US President-elect Donald Trump's envoy to the Middle East, on Netanyahu during a meeting described as "tense" between them last Saturday, according to what was reported by the private Hebrew website "The Times of Israel".

Tel Aviv is holding more than 10,300 Palestinians in its prisons, while it estimates that there are 98 Israeli prisoners in the Gaza Strip, while Hamas announced the killing of dozens of its prisoners in random Israeli raids.

The Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, announced today, Wednesday, that it had submitted an official response to the proposed ceasefire agreement with Israel in Gaza.

The movement said in a statement: “The Hamas leadership has just handed over to the mediating brothers (Egypt and Qatar) its response to the ceasefire agreement proposal.”

He added: "The movement's political bureau held an emergency meeting (without specifying the day of the meeting) to discuss the proposal submitted by the mediators."

Hamas continued: “The movement dealt with all responsibility and positivity, based on its responsibility towards our steadfast and patient people in the honorable Gaza Strip, by stopping the Zionist aggression against them, and putting an end to the massacres and war of extermination to which they are being subjected.”

The Hebrew news website Walla reported on Wednesday that the political level in Israel issued instructions to the Ministry of Defense and the army to "prepare to implement the agreement" expected to cease fire in the Gaza Strip and exchange prisoners with the Palestinian factions.

The website explained that the preparations include arrangements regarding the position of army forces in Gaza, on the borders and inside the country, in addition to organizing medical crews and the Israeli Air Force.

In this context, Israeli government secretary Yossi Fuchs claimed, via the "X" platform, that the agreement includes "the continued presence of Israeli army forces on the Philadelphi corridor" on the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt.

Fox also claimed that "the agreement allows for the resumption of combat operations after the end of the first phase, in the event that no agreement is reached regarding the second and third phases of the deal."

Settlers set fire to lands in the village of Madama, south of Nablus, on Wednesday evening.

According to local sources, a group of settlers attacked citizens' lands south of the village of Madama, south of Nablus, and set them on fire.

It is noteworthy that settler attacks have escalated recently, including setting fire to citizens’ lands in the villages of Nablus Governorate and attacking their property.

Channel 12 reported on Wednesday that the implementation of the expected prisoner exchange agreement and ceasefire in Gaza will begin next Sunday, with the release of 3 Israeli prisoners.

The channel explained that the release of 33 Israeli prisoners will take place in 7 batches during the first phase, which will last 42 days.

On the 7th day of the agreement, 4 others will be released, on the 14th day, 3 of them will be released, and on the 21st day, 3 will be released, according to the channel.

On the 28th day, 3 will be released, while on the 35th day, 3 will be released, and in the last week, 14 Israeli prisoners will be released.

The release of the Israeli prisoners coincides with the start of a ceasefire in Gaza under the agreement published by the official Israeli Broadcasting Corporation last week.

The Hebrew channel explained that in return, 1,000 Palestinian prisoners will be released from Israeli prisons during the first phase.

She pointed out that "the Israeli army will withdraw in the first phase from the Netzarim axis (central Gaza Strip), and most of the Israeli army forces will withdraw from the Philadelphi axis (south), and humanitarian aid will be increased to 600 trucks per day, and the residents of the northern Gaza Strip will be able to return to their homes."

The channel did not provide further details about the remaining stages.

On Tuesday, Hamas said in a statement that the expected ceasefire agreement in Gaza had reached its "final stages," noting that a "positive" atmosphere prevailed in the indirect negotiations with Israel in Doha.

Palestinian, Qatari and Israeli statements are escalating about an imminent agreement to exchange prisoners and end the ongoing Israeli genocidal war in the Gaza Strip for the 16th month.

Tel Aviv holds 10,400 Palestinian prisoners in its prisons, and estimates that there are 99 Israeli prisoners in Gaza, dozens of whom Hamas announced were killed in random Israeli raids.

Prime Minister Mohamed Mustafa said that “the international coalition to support the two-state solution must identify and implement concrete and irreversible tools collectively or individually on Israel, and such steps begin with a comprehensive ceasefire, lifting the blockade on the Gaza Strip, implementing UN resolutions including resolution 2334 (2016), resolution 2735 (2024) and accountability, thus paving the way to ending the illegal occupation and achieving the two-state solution.”

He added: "While we await the ceasefire, it is important to stress that it will not be acceptable for any entity to govern the Gaza Strip other than the legitimate Palestinian leadership and the government of the State of Palestine, and that any attempt to consolidate the separation between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip or create transitional entities will be rejected."

This came during his participation in the third meeting of the international coalition that aims to support the two-state solution and the embodiment of the Palestinian state, today, Wednesday, in the Norwegian capital, Oslo, with the participation of more than 80 countries and international organizations, to discuss ways to enhance humanitarian support for the Palestinians, especially in light of the tragic circumstances in Gaza, in addition to possible ways to revive the negotiation process, and enhance support for UNRWA, which plays a pivotal role in providing basic services to Palestinian refugees.

Mustafa continued: “After all this pain, Gaza needs a responsible government capable of healing the wounds of the Palestinian people, and reuniting Gaza with the rest of Palestine under one state, one government, one law and one system. We should not leave Gaza to a vacuum, but rather we must move quickly towards relief, early recovery, reconstruction and peace.”

He added: "We, as the government of the State of Palestine, are ready to assume our responsibilities in the Gaza Strip as we have done before, and we assure everyone that we are ready to implement UN Security Council Resolution 2735 and reunify the West Bank, including Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip under one government. Accordingly, the ministries and government institutions in the State of Palestine will resume their full responsibility for providing public services to citizens and preparing for reconstruction and revitalizing the economy."

Mustafa said that your recognition of the State of Palestine is a step that leads us towards achieving a just and lasting peace, and clarifies the importance of the two-state solution on internationally recognized borders and respect for security. Recognition confirms the importance of moving towards justice, peace and rights that must be supported.

He expressed his appreciation for the efforts of all parties to establish the two-state solution, saying: “We are in complete darkness. The Palestinian reality under occupation is difficult due to the severity and harshness of the situation, and the international community has failed to secure the basic rights that must be preserved.”

He continued: The Palestinian people have been under aggression for decades, and for more than a year and a half, Gaza has been under genocide. Since the signing of the Oslo Accords, Israeli governments have been undermining the two-state solution, building settlements, turning their backs on international laws, and restricting the work of international institutions, especially UNRWA.

He called for rejecting all Israeli laws against UNRWA, because they undermine the rights of Palestinians and the principle of the two-state solution and eliminate any hope for achieving peace.

He added, there must be decisive and serious action and solidarity at the international level to achieve tangible progress to establish the two-state solution to confront the violations of the Israeli occupation, implement accountability, pave the way for the two-state solution and end the illegal Israeli occupation.

Mustafa pointed out that the international coalition to implement the two-state solution, the conference of the high contracting parties, and the international peace conference scheduled to be held next June, are interconnected pillars that can together dismantle obstacles to peace, impose accountability, and create the necessary conditions for a real political path.

The Israeli occupation committed 6 massacres against families in the Gaza Strip, resulting in 62 dead and 253 injuries arriving at hospitals during the past 24 hours.

The Ministry of Health in Gaza reported that the death toll from the Israeli aggression has risen to 46,707 dead and 110,265 injuries since October 7, 2023.

It pointed out that there are still a number of victims under the rubble and on the roads, and ambulance and civil defense crews cannot reach them.

The Palestinian Prime Minister said on Wednesday that "no authority other than the Palestinian Authority should rule the Gaza Strip."

This came during his participation in the Norwegian capital, Oslo, in the third meeting of the international coalition that aims to support the two-state solution.

He added: "We must work immediately to stop the fire in the Gaza Strip and facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid."

The conference is witnessing a wide international presence, as participating alongside the Prime Minister are Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland, the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) Philippe Lazzarini, and representatives of more than 80 countries and international organizations.

The conference is expected to discuss ways to enhance humanitarian support for the Palestinians, especially in light of the tragic circumstances in Gaza, in addition to possible ways to revive the negotiation process between the two parties. Attendees will also discuss enhancing support for UNRWA, which plays a pivotal role in providing basic services to Palestinian refugees.

This is the third meeting of the “Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution,” which was announced last September on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meetings in New York.

Mustafa said that your recognition of the State of Palestine is a step that leads us towards achieving a just and lasting peace and clarifies the importance of the two-state solution on internationally recognized borders and respect for security. Recognition confirms the importance of moving towards justice, peace and rights that must be supported.

He appreciated the efforts of all parties to establish the two-state solution, saying: "We are in complete darkness. The Palestinian reality under occupation is difficult due to the severity and harshness of the situation, and the failure of the international community to secure the basic rights that must be preserved."

He continued: The Palestinian people have been under aggression for decades, and for more than a year and a half Gaza has been under genocide, and since the signing of the Oslo Accords, the Israeli governments have been undermining the two-state solution, building settlements, turning their backs on international laws, and restricting the work of international institutions, especially UNRWA.

The Prime Minister called for rejecting all Israeli laws against UNRWA, because they undermine Palestinian rights, the principle of the two-state solution, and destroy any hope for peace.

He added, there must be decisive and serious action and solidarity at the international level to achieve tangible progress to establish the two-state solution to confront the violations of the Israeli occupation, implement accountability, pave the way for the two-state solution and end the illegal Israeli occupation.

In turn, Lazzarini said: Within two weeks, two laws recently issued by the Israeli Knesset will be implemented, stopping the work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in the Palestinian territories and East Jerusalem, in clear violation of international law and the resolutions of the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly.

He continued: Such a policy will certainly affect the safe movement of our crews in the Gaza Strip, and deny the right to work in the rest of the occupied Palestinian territory, stressing the importance of focusing on the seriousness of what Israel is doing to distort the image of UNRWA, and add a terrorist character to it.

He said: Such a matter threatens the UNRWA staff, and more than that, it leads to harassment in all forms of work. There must be respect for the United Nations, and an end to undermining UNRWA’s efficiency and work.

Lazzarini stressed that the collapse of UNRWA will certainly lead to doubling the suffering in the Gaza Strip, and thus the collapse of UNRWA means the collapse of the social situation, and its collapse in the West Bank will lead to a state of instability and destruction in the Palestinian territories, and what this represents in terms of harm to the lives of the Palestinian people, and also undermines confidence in the international community and international law.

He said: The UN mandate for UNRWA is temporary, and since the establishment of UNRWA there has been clarification that it will work until this mandate is handed over to the Palestinian state, and UNRWA has formed a fundamental pillar to enable the Palestinian people to go on with their lives, and has provided a lot in the fields of education, health, and education, and therefore we cannot imagine what the lives of Palestinian refugees would be like without these services, especially in the Gaza Strip.

“We know how valuable education is to Palestinians, and we must continue to provide this service. If we fail to do so, we will be sacrificing future generations of Palestinians, and this will have major consequences for the future and the Palestinian state. We must ensure that we work in cooperation with the Palestinian Ministry of Education to ensure the right of every child to education in the West Bank and Gaza Strip,” he added.

Today, Wednesday, the Israeli occupation forces demolished an agricultural room and seized construction equipment in Bethlehem and Salfit.

Local sources reported that an occupation army force stormed the town of Shawawra, east of Bethlehem, and began demolishing an agricultural room belonging to the citizen Saleh Rayan Shawawra.

According to statistics from the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission, the occupation demolished 903 facilities last year, and notified 939 other facilities of demolition. The demolition operations were concentrated in the Jerusalem governorates with 190 demolition operations, then the Hebron governorate with 172 demolition operations, and the Bethlehem governorate with 68 demolition operations.

In Salfit, the occupation forces seized the mixer and concrete pump belonging to the Jama'in Concrete Company, while they were working on the road to the village of Qira.

Written by: Dr. Samah Gabr, Psychiatric Consultant

When the sounds of shelling stop and the guns fall silent in Gaza, some people think that the suffering is over. But the painful truth is that the end of the aggression does not mean the end of the pain. Rather, the survivors begin a new phase of confrontation, confronting the psychological wounds that accumulated during the days of the aggression, but were not given the opportunity to appear amidst the preoccupation with survival and survival.

Psychological suffering under bombardment

During war, the focus is on resilience. Children running to shelters with unanswered questions in their eyes, women protecting their children with words and prayers and trying hard to hide their fear. Men, for their part, struggle to provide for themselves and whatever safety they can in circumstances beyond their means.

In these difficult moments, doctors and psychologists try to provide support amidst the bombardment, but the challenges are enormous. There are not enough safe spaces, resources are limited, and sometimes reaching victims can be life-threatening for the therapists themselves. The support provided is temporary, more like a quick bandage to stop the bleeding of pain than to treat it.

When the real pain begins after the war

As the aggression ends, survivors find themselves confronted with a new reality. Children who have lived in fear become more prone to nightmares and insomnia, women who have borne the burden of war begin to suffer from a delayed psychological breakdown. Men feel the burden of loss or helplessness in rebuilding what was destroyed.

Psychological symptoms gradually begin to appear: sleep disturbances, loss of appetite, social isolation, and excessive anxiety. The entire society lives in a state of collective trauma, where the effects of psychological warfare become part of daily life.

Impact on the social fabric

We know that wars do not only affect individuals, but also strike at the very fabric of society. Repeated aggression can erode social bonds that once formed a society’s first bulwark against crises. Loss of loved ones and forced displacement weakens family relationships and creates psychological gaps between survivors. Feelings of helplessness and despair can push some to isolate themselves or resort to negative behaviors that affect social cohesion, such as domestic violence or addiction.

The intense psychological pressures can also exacerbate divisions within society, with some feeling let down by the world and the political or social system, creating a sense of mutual mistrust. These effects are not limited to wartime, but extend over many years, requiring intensive efforts to rebuild social relationships and restore a sense of belonging and solidarity. Addressing these societal wounds is an essential part of the comprehensive psychological recovery journey in Gaza.

Lessons from history

History is full of examples of how the psychological impact of war does not end when the fighting ends. In Europe after World War II, people took years to process the trauma of the destruction. In Bosnia, the psychological effects of war continued for decades after the conflict ended. In Gaza itself, studies after the 2014 Israeli aggression showed that children who had lost their homes or loved ones were the most affected by long-term psychological disorders.

What's next?

After a ceasefire, providing comprehensive and sustainable psychological support programmes becomes a top priority. This support cannot be limited to individual assistance, but must include the entire community. Community centres can be a safe haven for children to play and express themselves, and for women and men to receive group support that helps them regain their psychological balance.

Training local cadres of doctors and psychotherapists is an essential step in building long-term capacity within the community. Arts and theatre can also be effective tools for expressing trauma, something Palestinians have proven capable of using to strengthen their collective resilience.

The challenges we face

Of course, the road is not easy. Scarce resources, the ongoing occupation, and political divisions make psychological work a great challenge. But the biggest challenge lies in changing social perceptions about mental health, and conveying the message that psychotherapy is not a luxury but an absolute necessity for regaining life.

The pulse of life from the ruins

Psychotherapy after a ceasefire is not just a tool to relieve pain, but a window to rebuild the spirit and revive hope in souls. In Gaza, steadfastness is not only in the face of destruction, but in the ability of the Palestinian person to stand up again, no matter how deep the wound. When psychological wounds heal, life pulsates in the veins, and souls become stronger than all attempts at obliteration and oppression.

Healing the soul is the beginning of healing the nation, and the nation that heals the wounds of its soul will never be defeated.

Negotiators were trying to hammer out the final details of a ceasefire in Gaza on Wednesday after marathon talks in Qatar, and US and Egyptian leaders promised to stay in close contact about a deal over the coming hours.More than eight hours of talks in Doha had fueled optimism.Officials from mediators Qatar, Egypt and the US as well as Israel and Hamas said an agreement for a truce in the besieged enclave and release of hostages was closer than ever.But a senior Hamas official told Reuters late on Tuesday that the Palestinian group had not delivered its response yet because it was still waiting for Israel to submit maps showing how its forces would withdraw from Gaza.For the latest updates on the Israel-Palestine conflict, visit our dedicated page.Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari earlier told a news conference that both sides were presented with a text and talks on the last details were under way.US President Joe Biden, whose administration has been taking part alongside an envoy of President-elect Donald Trump, said a deal was close after the war decimated Gaza, killed tens of thousands of people and triggered conflicts in the region.Biden and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi talked about progress in the negotiations on Tuesday.“Both leaders committed to remain in close coordination directly and through their teams over the coming hours,” the White House said in a statement after the leaders’ telephone call.The two presidents “emphasized the urgent need for a deal to be implemented.”

‘Critical phase’

Hamas said the talks had reached the final steps and it hoped this round of negotiations would lead to a deal.An Israeli official said talks had reached a critical phase although some details needed to be worked out: “We are close, we are not there yet.”White House National Security adviser Jake Sullivan said hopefully a Gaza hostage deal will be reached this week.

Visiting Rome, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on Tuesday he believed a majority of Israel’s coalition government would support a Gaza deal if one is finally agreed, despite vocal opposition from hardline nationalist parties in the coalition.

Militant group Islamic Jihad, which is separate from Hamas and also holds hostages in Gaza, said it was sending a senior delegation that would arrive in Doha on Tuesday night to take part in final arrangements for a ceasefire deal. If successful, the phased ceasefire - capping over a year of start-and-stop talks - could halt fighting that decimated Gaza, killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, made most of the enclave’s population homeless and is still killing dozens a day. That in turn could ease tensions across the wider Middle East, where the war has fueled conflict in the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Iraq, and raised fears of all-out war between Israel and Iran.

Israel would recover around 100 remaining hostages and bodies from among those captured in the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas that precipitated the war. In return it would free Palestinian detainees.US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who gave a speech in Washington outlining a vision for governing the Palestinian territories after the war, said it was up to Hamas to accept a deal that was already set for implementation.

“The deal ... would free the hostages, halt the fighting, provide security to Israel and allow us to significantly surge humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians who suffered terribly in this war that Hamas started,” Biden said on Monday. Despite the efforts to reach a ceasefire, the Israeli military, the Shin Bet internal intelligence agency and the air force attacked about 50 “terrorist” targets throughout Gaza over the last 24 hours, according to a statement issued by Shin Bet and the military. Meanwhile, the United Nations said it was busy preparing to expand humanitarian assistance to Gaza under a potential ceasefire but uncertainty around border access and security remained obstacles. Families of hostages in Israel were caught between hope and despair. “We can’t miss this moment. This is the last moment; we can save them,” said Hadas Calderon, whose husband Ofer and children Sahar and Erez were abducted. An Israeli official said the deal’s first stage would see the release of 33 hostages, including children, women including some female soldiers, men above 50, and the wounded and sick. Israel would gradually and partially withdraw some forces .A Palestinian source said Israel would free 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in the first phase over 60 days. Israel launched its assault in Gaza after Hamas-led fighters stormed across its borders on Oct. 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Since then, Israeli forces have killed more than 46,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to Palestinian health officials. Both sides have been committed in principle for months to the prospect of a ceasefire accompanied by a swap of remaining hostages for detainees. But Hamas rejected any deal that stopped short of bringing a permanent end to the war, while Israel said it would not end the war until Hamas is dismantled.

Trump’s Jan. 20 inauguration is now widely seen as a de facto deadline for a ceasefire agreement.

American writer Nathan Thrall expressed his pessimism about the Palestinian cause in the near future, explaining that for 7 decades he has only seen an expansion of the Israeli occupation and an expansion in the territories, in contrast to a contraction and shrinkage on the Palestinian side. He expected this to continue, perhaps faster and worse, "but justice will prevail in the end." The writer, who won the Pulitzer Prize for Nonfiction in 2024, added in an interview with Al Jazeera Net that despite the emergence of large sympathy movements in various countries of the world towards the Palestinian cause, "we must not exaggerate in assessing the situation, because in terms of real political power, everything is in Israel's interest now, so if we are optimistic about fundamental change, it is optimism in the long term." Nathan Thrall, an American writer based in Jerusalem, who was hosted by Georgetown University in Qatar, received the award for his groundbreaking work, “A Day in the Life of Abed Salameh,” which tells the tragic story of a school bus accident in Jerusalem carrying Palestinian children, and the many political actions and decisions that affect daily life in Palestine. The international bestseller, translated into more than 20 languages, has received critical acclaim, been selected as a New York Times Book Review Editor’s Choice, and included among the best books of the year by 18 publications. Nathan stressed that through this book, he tried to tell history through the eyes of the characters or their family stories, so there were no separate sections in the book where he provides a history lesson to the reader, but rather everything through the memories and stories of the individual characters as seen from their point of view, so the reader will understand the political side. 

A true story

What inspired you to write this novel "A Day in the Life of Abed Salama: Anatomy of the Jerusalem Tragedy"?

The first thing that inspired me was that I was deeply affected by this true story about a bus accident that had a group of Palestinian kindergarten children on board in the greater Jerusalem area. I saw something very symbolic in this story, as the bus burned for more than 30 minutes before the first Israeli fire truck arrived at the scene. The Palestinians present were trying hard to put out the fire without having the necessary means to do so.

At the same time, the parents were unable to reach their children, unable to cross the checkpoints to look for them in the hospitals to which they were transferred, so I saw in this story something very symbolic and moving. This story allowed me to combine two of my main goals in the first book: the first was to reach people on an emotional level to convey the tragedy of life in Palestine, and the second was to describe the apartheid system. By telling what happened in those 24 hours after the incident, this story can only be told by explaining the system of racist domination that the parents had to navigate.

For me, this story was a way of describing everyday life under occupation, and carefully focusing on something that happens all over the world, like a car accident, but showing what it means to have this ordinary thing happen in a very extraordinary place.

So, is Abed Salama a real person? And how did I choose this character?

Yes, the story is real. This incident happened on February 16, 2012. At first, I decided to write about this incident without meeting Abed. I tried to reach out to everyone who had a direct or indirect connection to the incident: parents, teachers, witnesses, doctors, lawyers, emergency services workers. Early in my research and interviews, a close family friend told me that she had a distant relative who was the father of one of the children on the bus. That friend put me in touch with a less distant relative, who put me in touch with Abed. A day or two later, I was in his living room talking to him and the moment he started telling his story, my eyes filled with tears and I knew this was a story that needed to be told.

We should not exaggerate

The Arab public sees that Europe and America only support Israel, do you think there are movements in Europe that support Palestinian rights? And is this movement increasing?

Yes, I see that and I think this is a very important phenomenon. We are witnessing a clear change, we saw the crowds in London and New York, there is a strong and growing movement in support of Palestinian rights, but we should not exaggerate the situation. In terms of real political power, everything is in Israel's favor now, so if we are optimistic about fundamental change, it is optimism in the long term. These young people in their twenties, those participating in the protests in the universities, may not gain real political influence until after maybe 20 years, so I think this is very important, but we should also not exaggerate the portrayal of the current balance of power, which is completely in Israel's favor.

In Gaza, Sudan and other countries, we have millions of stories like Abed Salama, how can literature deal with all these stories?

I think what literature does is it takes a situation that is full of millions of tragedies, like in Palestine, where people tend to talk in abstractions or think abstractly, so today, when people talk about Gaza, they talk in numbers, 46,000, 47,000, 48,000, and the idea of literature is not to deny the numbers, the numbers are important and we should pay attention to them, but the goal is to really understand what each of these 46,000 cases means, each one of them is definitely a separate story.

I have dedicated my life to working on the Palestinian issue and I worked for 10 years in a leading international organization, the International Crisis Group, and my job was to talk to diplomats and journalists and analysts in think tanks, and I realized that this was a complete waste of time, because when you talk to an elite audience, this audience is only ready to make very small and incremental changes.

But in a situation like Palestine, you need to turn the world upside down, where you need a completely different understanding of what is happening and what needs to be changed, it is not just a matter of making small incremental changes, so this approach was wrong for me. If I really want to see change in Palestine, I have to work at the level of understanding of ordinary people, and this is done through narrative, through storytelling, not trying to convince a high-level politician through analysis, the book focuses on the tragedy of Jerusalem.

Palestinian Shrinkage

How do you balance the personal narrative with the major political issues?

That was the biggest challenge for me in this book, I wanted this book to achieve both, to combine the political and the personal, and the way I decided to ensure that I would only tell history through the eyes of the characters or the stories of their families. So, there were no separate sections in the book where I would give the reader a history lesson, but everything, only through the memories and stories of the individual characters as seen from their point of view and so the reader would understand the political side.

Do you think the book had an impact on the political situation in Jerusalem?

There is such a profound injustice that I don’t think the Palestinians will ever be free in my lifetime, and all I can hope for is to make a mark, to make a small step in the right direction, and so I think this book can do that, and it can change the hearts and minds of those who read it.

What do you see for the future of Jerusalem under these political circumstances?

If we look at what has happened over the past decades in Palestine, we see a continuous process of Israeli expansion and Palestinian contraction into smaller and smaller areas, and this process is accelerating now more than it was in the past, in the year since October 7, Israel has confiscated more Palestinian land in the West Bank than it did in the previous two decades. So if you ask me what I expect for the future, I expect more of the same, but worse, so even if I have a very long-term optimism that justice will prevail, it may not be something that I will live to see, and I have no faith that there will be Palestinian independence, I am really pessimistic.

Source: Al Jazeera

Dozens of settlers stormed the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque today, Wednesday, under heavy protection from the Israeli occupation police.

Local sources reported that dozens of settlers stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque in successive groups from the Al-Maghariba Gate and performed Talmudic rituals in its courtyards.

The same sources added that the occupation police increased their presence at the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque and around the Old City, and obstructed the entry of worshipers into the mosque.

Since the beginning of the comprehensive Israeli aggression against our people in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, in October 2023, the occupation forces have tightened their measures at the gates of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the entrances to the Old City.

Terrorist settler gangs stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque courtyards 256 times during the year 2024.

Last night, the Israeli occupation forces blew up houses and bulldozed roads in Aita al-Shaab, Hanin and Maroun al-Ras, southern Lebanon.

The Lebanese National News Agency reported that the occupation forces carried out a bombing operation in the town of Markaba in the Marjeyoun district.

The occupation forces continue to violate the ceasefire agreement that entered into force on 11/27/2024.

In parallel with the fast-paced negotiations in Doha, aimed at stopping the massacre in Gaza, and putting the final touches on the expected deal, the genocide is becoming more intense and raging, as if it were in its first days, in terms of the density of the belts of fire, which are pounding residential areas crowded with families, with many sons and daughters, whose departure has left an indelible lump in the throats and hearts of those who were destined to survive, from fathers and mothers to grandfathers and grandmothers.

It is clear from what was leaked from Steve Witkoff’s meeting with Netanyahu last Saturday that Trump’s envoy conveyed to him the threat of the one returning to the White House: “either or,” which made him reluctantly declare the threat of “hell,” which was said to be directed at Netanyahu more than at “Hamas.”

Channel 11 reported that Witkov broke the rules of protocol when he allowed himself to set his meeting with Netanyahu for 10:00 a.m. Saturday, as if he were issuing a subpoena saying, “See you tomorrow,” when the “fox” tried to invoke the sanctity of the Sabbath to evade the meeting.

While Gaza is drowning in the blood of its children, eating its hunger and drinking its thirst, Blinken spoke in his farewell speech yesterday about a sustainable peace that will be built on corpses and rubble, while the “liar,” as one activist described him, interrupting his repeated speech, did not stop until his last day from the lies with which he concludes his political life as Minister of Genocide, a position that qualifies him and his boss, his partner in crime, to receive a joint Nobel Prize for Genocide.

Stop the genocide now...!

US President Trump's threat to release the kidnapped Israelis or else hell awaits the Middle East in general and the Gaza Strip in particular confirms:

▪︎ Continuing the policy of blind bias and absolute, unlimited support for the Israeli entity and its aggressive, expansionist policy.

▪︎ A reflection of his sadistic and dictatorial outlook and strategy in dealing with militarily weak countries in contradiction and duplicity with previous statements about ending wars in the world and establishing peace in the Middle East.

▪︎ Subjecting the world to his policy under threat of destruction, relying on the principle of brute force to ensure America’s influence, hegemony and interests.

▪︎ Disregarding the United Nations Charter, its principles, objectives, and international law, in an abdication and evasion of its responsibilities as a superpower with permanent membership in the Security Council to work to consolidate international peace and security and save humanity from the scourge of wars.

Why the threat and belittlement?

The American threat is not new to the Arab region with its borders and vast geography, but the explicit and public Trumpian language and style was not familiar. American pressures on the leaders of countries were done behind the scenes and in the language of enticement and intimidation. This change is due to many factors and reasons, including:

First: President Trump’s personality, his financial standing, and his style of dealing with his employees using the language of command, and transferring this style in his dealings with Third World leaders to impose his policy and blackmail him to plunder wealth in particular.

Second: The absence of a parallel global pole for decades, which enabled America to impose its leadership and hegemony alone on the global stage.

Third: The absence of a broad axis consisting of the majority of member states in the United Nations General Assembly that are harmed by American policy, working to impose its interests and security by adopting a unified position that confronts American plans and policy. The absence of practical coordination between the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the African Union countries, and the Non-Aligned Movement countries, and the sufficiency of issuing statements without any practical step accompanying them, is only evidence of this.

Fourth: The acceptance of the overwhelming majority of the members of the General Assembly, despite its rights, to impose its interests, security and territorial integrity by upholding the supremacy of international law, establishing the principle of equality and justice among all countries, and implementing international resolutions without duplication and selectivity, in its decorative role, subordinate to and dominated by the five permanent member states of the Security Council, contrary to the principles and objectives of the United Nations.

Fifth: Acceptance, out of weakness or fear, of not taking the initiative to impose sanctions and measures stipulated in the United Nations Charter against rogue states that refuse to abide by their duties, such as Israel, as a member state, and not to endanger international peace and security by occupying the territory of another state and violating its obligations to undertake to implement relevant international resolutions. The continued refusal of the Israeli colonial entity to end its occupation of the territories of the occupied Palestinian state, which is internationally recognized, in implementation of hundreds of resolutions issued by the Security Council and the General Assembly, as a result of the absence of work to oblige the Security Council to assume its responsibilities, which acts as an agent for the General Assembly in implementing its resolutions without selectivity, is nothing but the existing model of this weakness in the face of the dominance of one or more of the permanent member states of the Security Council through the use of the veto, contrary to the goal of including it in the United Nations Charter.

Sixth: The absence of global reactions condemning, denouncing, denouncing and rejecting Trump’s statements, which indicate a complete undermining of international peace, starting with the Arab countries.

This disdain and threat requires the leaders of the Arab countries to stand up to it seriously. The statements issued and issued by American leaders and their Israeli agent about changing the map of the Middle East mean not only extending dominance, influence and control over the joints of political, economic, military, security and technological decision-making, but also means redrawing a new map for the countries of the Middle East by dividing them into ethnic, racial, sectarian and religious states that guarantee America its influence and dominance for decades to come in anticipation of the birth of a multipolar world order. What is currently happening in Syria, Lebanon, Sudan, Libya, Iraq and Palestine is only an indication of that.

Will the security, unity, stability and renaissance of the Arab nation and its countries remain dependent on the satisfaction of Republican or Democratic America, or both?

Isn't it time to realize the danger of accepting and submitting to the schemes of foreign powers, whether regional or international?

It is time to confront collectively and with a unified position to reject Trump's statements and his orientations towards the Arab countries and his continued blind bias towards the Israeli colonial entity, which represents the greatest danger to the security and stability of the Arab countries, starting with the countries surrounding occupied Palestine. The map published in recent days by the Israeli Foreign Ministry targeting the Arab countries neighboring Palestine is nothing but evidence of the danger of the aggressive colonial expansionist plan.

America's interests in the greater Arab homeland are greater than its interests with it, which requires and calls for the leaders of countries to move in dealing with America to the square of counter-action in order to preserve its stability and sovereignty by building a relationship based on the exchange of interests without subordination and domination. Here lies the importance of separating the nature of the Arab-American relationship and not linking it, as America seeks in any way, to the relationship with the rogue Israeli occupation authorities that refuse to comply with international laws and implement international resolutions, but rather to the conditions of its acceptance as a state in the United Nations and a source of threat to Arab national security. The war of extermination and ethnic cleansing against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, and a new Israeli occupation of Syrian and Lebanese lands are only an example of the danger looming over all Arabs and Muslims.

Palestine, its freedom, and supporting the steadfastness of its people and their struggle for freedom and independence, and the establishment of their independent state with Jerusalem as its capital, is the title, compass, and beginning for bringing about the desired renaissance towards protecting comprehensive Arab national security.

.........

America's interests in the greater Arab world are greater than its interests with it, which requires and calls for the leaders of countries to move in dealing with America to the square of counter-action in order to preserve its stability and sovereignty by building a relationship based on the exchange of interests without subordination and domination.

When men cry in Gaza, their oppression has reached a point where men’s patience can no longer bear it. The images we see every day since the war of extermination began in Gaza make even rocks cry, so what about the state of fathers as they bid farewell to their children and cry out, “Oh God, save us from this hell.”

Every time a picture comes out of Gaza, it opens a door to pain, and every time we see the patience of people who have lost patience, we say, “Oh God, when will this massacre end? When will this genocide stop?” At the same time that statements are issued about an agreement on a truce and a deal, the occupation’s desire to kill increases, and the bombing and destruction operations increase. In doing so, it insists on continuing the genocide until the last moments, before the agreement goes into effect, as if it has not had enough of the blood of children and women throughout the days and months of genocide. The level of pain and suffering increases and the area of devastation expands.

Fathers, mothers, grandmothers, grandfathers, bereaved women and men who were patient until patience failed them, throughout the days of war, as the earth became too narrow for them and they were besieged by enemy and friend, so they cried in grief as the means of survival and preserving the souls they gave birth to to live became too narrow for them, but the war came to kill them unjustly and annihilatingly. Entire families no longer exist in Gaza, completely erased from the records, and countless calamities, and international reports come to say that the published statistics are not the real numbers, but rather that the numbers exceed the announced numbers, as thousands of victims fell and were not registered in the lists of the Ministry of Health, and were buried under the rubble of their destroyed homes, and revealing that requires time, after this war stops.

Scenes that make rocks cry are conveyed by the images coming from Gaza every minute, of children who died or were injured without guilt, and fathers who were unable to protect their sons and grandchildren from the horror of the genocide. We saw tears streaming, and heard screams of helplessness and weakness, like continuous sobbing with words that carved their place and occupied memory.

Scenes of blood and pain amidst a difficult reality, and difficult days for the people who are living the horrors of the genocide that has been ongoing for 467 days. Between killing, death, destruction and devastation, the people of Gaza continue to survive as much as they can. There is nothing more difficult than the horrors that the people of Gaza have experienced, and nothing more severe than the pain that afflicts them.

The unfortunate events that swept the city of Jenin and its camp are not a struggle between right and wrong, between the patriot and the unpatriotic, between the resister and the one who rejects resistance, between those who claim loyalty, patriotism and insistence on resistance, and those who stand against loyalty and with the occupation against resistance.

Whoever says this is truly standing with the occupation, to consolidate the division between the sons of one people, between the factions, organizations and parties. He is consecrating the national discord under misleading and lying banners and terms in claiming to be more patriotic than the other, claiming to be biased towards the resistance, against the Palestinian National Authority, which is falsely and unjustly accused of standing against the resistance.

Political forces, unions, civil society institutions, and independent figures called for, met, and launched their community initiative under the term: “Accord,” based on national and moral duty, with the aim of urgent action to put an end to this recklessness and nonsense that only serves their enemy, who follows what is happening with complete satisfaction, and works to feed it without hesitation.

The Palestinian Wafaq Initiative did not limit its efforts to containing the current crisis and impasse, but rather sought to establish a basis and foundations for sustainable national relations based on:

First, stopping all forms of clashes, with a ban on attacks on public and private property, headquarters, vehicles, security personnel, and official institutions. At the same time, the security services must commit to implementing the law in accordance with the rules of arrest and detention, respecting the dignity of the citizen, and strictly adhering to the controls on the use of firearms.

Secondly, holding legally responsible anyone who committed crimes against persons or property and bringing them to trial in accordance with the provisions of the law, with the security services committed to publishing the results of the investigation into cases of shooting that led to the killing of citizens and bringing the offenders to trial, and compensating the affected families.

On the basis of the reconciliation initiative, the “National Authority for Palestinian Civil Peace” was formed from national figures, religious men, civil society institutions, unionists, and human rights activists, and they announced that they “will not allow differences over any issue to turn into clashes between the sons of one people.”

She stressed the need to reach a solution to “the responsibility of balancing the right to resistance according to international conventions and the rule of law in Palestine,” and thus lifted the national political cover from the claim of resistance, and that: “the forms of struggle and methods of resistance are linked to every stage of the struggle, and it is a matter left to the dialogue table between the Palestinian political forces,” not to be hostage to the positions of a class, group or party, without the others from the political forces, and thus the outcome of the dialogue required between the various parties, to reach a state of national consensus.

The Gaza experience, its bitterness and its destructive results, as Walid Al-Awad, a member of the political bureau of the Palestinian People's Party from Gaza, says: "It must not be transferred to the West Bank. The ruling party in the colony, which is made up of extreme right-wing political parties and extremist Jewish religious parties, is looking for excuses to practice their criminal acts in the West Bank, as they did in our Gaza Strip. Therefore, the national struggle must not be captive to limited groups that, by possessing weapons, imagine that they are capable of liberating the homeland. Rather, this requires the broadest popular resistance front from all forces and factions, with our entire people as its incubator, as happened in the first intifada in 1987. We must not mortgage the future of our people to these groups, despite their bravery and readiness."

Khalil Shaheen: The ceasefire agreement in Gaza represents a decisive step towards ending the war of extermination and gradually restoring life to the Strip

Majed Hadeeb: Commitment to the ceasefire will be strong to achieve Israeli goals and Hamas's attempt to preserve what remains for it

Dr. Dalal Erekat: Israel may continue to use the existence of Hamas as a pretext to wage wars if the core issues of the conflict are not addressed

Talal Okal: Warning against being preoccupied with internal conflicts, which may weaken the high morale felt by Gazans after the war

Hani Abu Al-Sabaa: The next stage is the most difficult and requires providing food and personal security and responding to people’s aspirations for a better future

Dr. Tamara Haddad: The cessation of war will not be the end of suffering, but rather the beginning of a series of crises that require urgent and comprehensive solutions through effective management of people’s affairs

After more than 15 months of destruction, suffering and war of extermination in the Gaza Strip, the deal agreement and ceasefire came to give the people a glimmer of hope for the gradual restoration of life.

In separate interviews with “I”, writers, political analysts and university professors confirm that stopping the bombing and indiscriminate killing, especially against civilians and children, along with the entry of humanitarian aid, represents a first step towards alleviating the worsening humanitarian crisis and restoring the breath of life, especially in northern Gaza.

But writers, analysts and university professors believe that with the ceasefire, the biggest challenge begins in rebuilding the Gaza Strip, through removing rubble, restoring roads and buildings, re-operating health and educational facilities, and bringing in medical supplies, which are essential steps to restore life to normal.

They believe that providing caravans and tents to the displaced is part of the efforts to return hundreds of thousands of displaced people, and these steps are not limited to providing basic needs only, but also contribute to thwarting Israeli plans that aim to change the demographic composition of the sector.

However, despite the hope that the agreement brings, they warn that the danger remains in the possibility of its relapse, especially in light of Israeli statements about freedom of military movement in Gaza, and possible changes in American policy, which may threaten the continuity of the truce. Therefore, the need for effective international guarantees is essential to ensure the full implementation of the agreement and prevent a return to the beginning. Nevertheless, the people of Gaza remain clinging to the hope of rebuilding their lives, despite all the challenges.

The most important gains of the agreement are stopping the indiscriminate killings.

The writer and political analyst Khalil Shaheen believes that the ceasefire agreement in Gaza represents a decisive step towards ending the war of extermination waged by Israel and gradually restoring life in the Strip, noting that the most prominent gains of this agreement are the cessation of the indiscriminate killings that targeted civilians, including entire families, journalists, and children, as well as the cessation of the roar of aircraft, especially drones that never leave the skies of Gaza. It also constitutes an important factor in giving the population a basic sense of personal security, which they lost during the war.

Shaheen points out that the ceasefire agreement goes beyond ending the bombing and killing to include the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, which is a necessary step to alleviate the humanitarian crisis that the Strip is experiencing. According to the agreement, 600 trucks carrying food, clothing, and fuel will be brought in to operate bakeries that have stopped working, which will contribute to alleviating the state of starvation that the residents of the Strip have suffered from, especially in northern Gaza.

Shaheen believes that stopping the destruction also includes ending the continuous bombing that has destroyed residential and commercial facilities and infrastructure, which will allow the sector the opportunity to gradually restore life, starting with removing rubble and repairing roads, and moving on to operating municipalities and civil defense, and reaching the resumption of commercial activity and operating bakeries and stalls, which will contribute to providing job opportunities for the population.

Shaheen believes that introducing engineering machinery to remove rubble and pave roads is the beginning of the reconstruction of Gaza, and that the entry of goods and materials needed to restart hospitals and water stations will restore life to the health sector that was destroyed, as well as reduce environmental pollution that has worsened as a result of targeting purification and sewage stations.

He points out that the agreement also includes the entry of 60,000 caravans and 200,000 tents, which guarantees the return of hundreds of thousands of displaced persons to their places of residence, even if they are destroyed, stressing that this step preserves the privacy and dignity of the residents, especially in the winter, and also helps to thwart Israel's plans to make forced demographic changes in the Strip.

Shaheen points out that the education sector will also witness a gradual return with the restoration of schools and universities that were destroyed during the war, and the operation of hospitals and the provision of medical supplies will be necessary to treat the wounded and sick, especially the elderly, which will restore part of the life cycle of the people of Gaza.

Despite the apparent positives of the ceasefire agreement, Shaheen warns of the risks of a potential setback as a result of general interpretations of the agreement’s wording.

Shaheen points out that Netanyahu's government may exploit this formulation to resume fighting, especially in light of statements by prominent Israeli officials, such as Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, who confirm Israel's intention to maintain freedom of military movement in Gaza, as is the case in Lebanon and Syria.

Shaheen believes that this threat coincides with an Israeli bet on the new US administration led by Donald Trump, which is expected to be more biased towards Netanyahu's policies compared to the Biden administration, while Shaheen stresses the importance of having effective international guarantees to implement the agreement and prevent Israel from overturning it.

Shaheen stresses that the return of displaced residents to their places of residence, and the reconstruction of what can be repaired, will contribute to thwarting Israel’s plans to forcibly displace the population. Moreover, the gradual restoration of life, despite all the challenges, reflects the ability of the people of Gaza to cling to life and rebuild what was destroyed by the war.

The situation in Gaza after the war stops will witness radical changes

Writer and political analyst Majed Hadeeb believes that the situation in the Gaza Strip after the war stops will witness radical changes, pointing out that the Gaza Strip "after the war" will not resemble the Gaza we knew before the aggression, due to the catastrophic changes that the war left behind on all levels.

Hadib explains that the humanitarian situation in Gaza will be catastrophic, as the Strip has lost more than 80% of the basic necessities of life, according to official statistics, in addition to the martyrdom of more than 45,000 Palestinians, the injury of 200,000 others, and the complete erasure of more than 600 families from the civil registry.

Hadib confirms that the majority of Gaza's residents are now suffering from poverty, hunger and oppression as a result of the destruction of their property and their repeated displacement, either because of the fighting or in response to the occupation's instructions that were received through notices or leaflets.

He believes that the war has resulted in major demographic changes in the Gaza Strip, as the Israeli occupation seeks to reshape Gaza according to its security visions that guarantee the protection of its borders, noting that this transformation reflects the success of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in achieving his vision of the “new Gaza,” which is based on the equation of “economic peace,” as he wants to establish his concept among the Palestinians “that there is no security or stability for them except under the umbrella of Israel.”

Hadib believes that the war on Gaza aimed to achieve several strategic goals, most notably restoring the prestige of the Israeli army, which had shown its fragility in the events of October 7, but the air force was the decisive factor in the continuation of the war.

Hadeeb points out that Netanyahu has succeeded in creating the “new Palestinian man,” who is now trapped between submitting to the reality imposed by Israel or going back in his life.

Hadeeb points to Israel's success in building new alliances with Arab and Islamic countries, regardless of Palestinian rights, which has increased the Palestinians' isolation from their surroundings.

Hadeeb points out that these developments reflect Israel's success in building new alliances, which presents the Palestinians with two choices: either accept Israeli dictates, or face an uncertain future that will take them back decades.

He explained that the upcoming arrangements for the Gaza Strip will be made according to an Israeli vision with regional and international participation, pointing out that the Israeli withdrawal from the Strip will be gradual and in stages, in line with the visions of Egypt and Qatar to form an interim national administration or government that will take over the affairs of the Strip, rebuild it, and guarantee Israel’s security.

Hadib confirms that the commitment of both parties, the Palestinians and the Israelis, to the ceasefire will be strong, as a result of achieving the declared and undeclared Israeli goals, and Hamas’s attempt to preserve what remains of its political and security power and presence.

In contrast, Hadeeb points out that the Israeli front will witness internal divisions the day after the cessation of the war, as Netanyahu will face strong opposition from the extreme right, which described the agreement as a “catastrophe for the Israeli people.”

On the Palestinian side, Hadeeb believes that Hamas will seek to fully commit to the ceasefire, after it was subjected to internal and external stab wounds, and lost the confidence of the Palestinian street as a result of the deteriorating conditions.

Future scenarios vary depending on the nature of the deal and its objectives.

Dr. Dalal Erekat, Professor of Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution at the Arab American University, believes that the success of any deal to end the conflict in Gaza depends largely on the details of this deal and the extent of the negotiating parties’ commitment to it, in addition to the guarantees of its implementation and the mechanisms for monitoring it.

Erekat points out that future scenarios vary based on the nature of the deal and its objectives, and highlights the importance of the comprehensiveness of the agreement to ensure sustainable results.

Erekat explains that any deal that includes clear steps to rebuild Gaza and improve living conditions, such as easing the blockade and improving basic services such as electricity, water and health, could lead to a gradual easing of the residents’ lives. But if the deal is limited to releasing prisoners and a ceasefire without addressing the root causes of the conflict, the calm will be temporary, opening the way for tensions to escalate again.

Erekat points out that this scenario is not new, as Gaza has witnessed five consecutive wars interspersed with temporary truces, instead of reaching a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire.

Erekat stresses the need for any deal to deal with the political framework in a comprehensive manner, to ensure the achievement of a just and sustainable solution that is parallel to addressing the humanitarian and security dimensions, while Erekat believes that the absence of a political vision that supports the sustainability of stopping the war through economic development and guaranteeing political rights will make any agreement fragile.

Erekat warns that Israel may continue to use the existence of Hamas as a pretext to launch new wars if the core issues of the conflict are not addressed.

Erekat believes that the continuity of any deal depends on the existence of a real political will to achieve peace, in addition to effective guarantees from mediators and a strong role for the international community in implementing the terms of the agreement.

It stresses that clear mechanisms for monitoring implementation and evaluation of the deal are necessary to enforce commitment from parties that may breach the agreement.

Erekat points out that any agreement will be in danger of collapse if it does not deal with the basic issues, such as the blockade, the occupation, and ensuring the political rights of the Palestinian people.

Erekat stresses that the administration of the Gaza Strip and transitional governance, along with the complete withdrawal of the occupation, are essential factors to ensure the success of any agreement.

Erekat stresses that agreements are not just documents that are signed, but rather a long process that requires continuous follow-up and effective coordination.

Erekat believes that the internal Palestinian national dialogue represents a fundamental pillar for the success of any deal, as the internal division weakens the chances of stability and allows the occupation to continue implementing its strategies that aim to undermine Palestinian rights, most notably the right to self-determination.

The expected scene in Gaza after the end of the war will be difficult

Writer and political analyst Talal Okal describes the expected scene in the Gaza Strip after the end of the war as being difficult by all standards, as residents face comprehensive destruction of homes and infrastructure, including water, energy, sewage and hospital networks.

Awkal stresses that this destruction will exacerbate the humanitarian situation, with severe food shortages and the spread of diseases as a result of the deteriorating environmental conditions.

However, Awkal points out that the people of Gaza have a strong will that enables them to overcome these crises, as despite the dangers and destruction, the residents are eager to return to their destroyed homes, where they will set up their tents even on top of the rubble without fear of renewed bombing.

Awkal asserts that the people of Gaza will continue to prove that they are the “people of giants” capable of overcoming all assessments that question their ability to rebuild their lives.

Awkal cites the previous experiences of the people of Gaza, where areas such as Beit Hanoun, Shuja'iyya, and others were subjected to great destruction in previous wars, and despite that, the people of Gaza were able to rise again and restore the necessities of life.

Awkal refers to World Bank reports that warned in 2012 that Gaza would be uninhabitable by 2020, but the residents were able to improve their conditions beyond expectations before this war.

Regarding the political conflict, Awkal believes that the cessation of war may continue based on the policies of the US administration, which he described as being firm in its dealings with Benjamin Netanyahu's government.

He believes that US President-elect Donald Trump was running his policies like an emperor, refusing to allow any party to manipulate US interests.

Awkal warns against the Palestinians becoming preoccupied with internal conflicts, which could weaken the high morale felt by the people of Gaza after the war, after they were rid of the hell of war and the Israeli machine of brutality.

Awkal calls for investing in this Palestinian popular steadfastness in Gaza to strengthen national unity and avoid falling prey to factional calculations that may harm the Palestinian cause as a whole.

The next day will witness the beginning of serious thinking about managing Gaza's affairs.

Writer and political analyst Hani Abu Al-Sabaa confirms that the citizens of the Gaza Strip are eagerly awaiting the moment of announcing the ceasefire and implementing the deal, in light of extremely difficult living conditions. The aggression has led to a severe shortage of water, food and medicine, and the lack of basic services in shelters, while the northern Gaza Strip is suffering from the specter of famine.

According to Abu Al-Sabaa, the day after the deal will witness the beginning of serious thinking about managing Gaza’s affairs. This stage requires providing the residents with basic needs, working to rebuild what can be repaired, operating vital facilities such as hospitals, and resuming the educational process after an interruption that lasted for more than a year.

Abu Al-Sabaa stresses that these tasks constitute heavy burdens that cannot be borne by one faction, but rather require a joint effort from all parties that contributed to steadfastness during the war.

Abu Al-Sabaa points out that the manifestations of joy witnessed in the shelters, where citizens expressed their joy by going out into the streets and chanting Allahu Akbar, reflect the will to live among the people of Gaza and their escape from death despite the suffering.

Abu Al-Sabaa warns that the next stage is the most difficult, as it requires providing food and personal security, and responding to people’s aspirations for a better future away from the specter of wars.

Abu Al-Sabaa explains that there are key points that make the deal viable for a longer period than before, as Israel failed to achieve its military goals and the war of attrition in Gaza showed the Israeli army's inability to deal with the resistance, especially in recent days when the number of Israeli army casualties was observed to have risen.

Abu Al-Sabaa confirms that Israel was unable to recover its prisoners in Gaza, despite the passage of more than 15 months since their detention, and failed to stop the launching of rockets, as the resistance recorded the launching of 32 rockets in the last month alone, which indicates the resistance’s ability to restore its missile force.

Abu Al-Sabaa points to internal disagreements in Israel, where the government lacks consensus on the war, with demonstrations and objections continuing, and the new US administration led by Trump, known for his economic approach, may be less inclined to support wars.

Abu Al-Sabaa points to regional variables, especially in Syria, where the Syrian front could pose a future threat to Israel, which may push it to focus on this axis and not continue the war in Gaza.

Abu Al-Sabaa believes that all indicators on the ground and in the regional environment indicate that the next stage may witness a long-term deal, including political and humanitarian arrangements to ensure the stability of the sector.

Abu Al-Sabaa stresses that Gaza needs wise management to ensure a decent life for the population, far from corruption and favoritism.

Abu Al-Sabaa believes that those who participated in the steadfastness during the war must contribute to the construction phase.

Abu Al-Sabaa stresses the importance of providing care for children who have lost their breadwinners, and distributing aid fairly, calling for reassuring the population that wars are a thing of the past, noting that the continuation of wars provides an excuse for Israel to pressure the population and push them to emigrate.

Abu Al-Sabaa stresses that the next stage is an opportunity to rebuild Gaza and transform it into a safe and stable environment for the population, far from the specter of repeated wars.

A state of shock after the implementation of the deal and the truce

Writer and political researcher Dr. Tamara Haddad believes that the situation in the Gaza Strip after the implementation of the deal and the truce will witness a state of shock, as the citizen will find himself facing a reality full of challenges.

Haddad points out that the cessation of the war will not be the end of the suffering, but rather the beginning of a series of crises that require urgent and comprehensive solutions through effective management of the affairs of the people in the Gaza Strip.

Haddad confirms that citizens will live in a state of confusion about how to reorganize their daily lives, especially with the possible return to the northern Gaza Strip.

Haddad points out that one of the conditions of the deal may include strict security monitoring of those returning to the northern Gaza Strip, to ensure that they are not affiliated with armed factions.

Haddad believes that the situation in Gaza will be catastrophic by all standards, as a result of the massive destruction caused by the war in lives and property, and the absence of basic necessities of life.

She stresses that Israel has targeted the provision of services and aid to a minimum, making it extremely difficult to restore normal life.

Haddad points out that the absence of effective management of the affairs of the Gaza Strip will make the process of bringing in humanitarian aid and reconstruction very complicated, in light of the challenges of some war merchants exploiting aid during the war period, as they sold it at exorbitant prices, which burdened the Palestinian citizen.

Haddad explains that the day after the ceasefire will impose major challenges on the citizen, starting from providing housing and food to arranging the health conditions of the wounded and sick who need treatment outside the Gaza Strip.

Haddad warns that the deal may be linked to major security arrangements, allowing the occupation army to enter and exit the Gaza Strip whenever it wants, without clear guarantees of its complete withdrawal or non-return, which would achieve Netanyahu's goal of releasing the Israeli detainees without ending the war comprehensively, while imposing a calm of a security nature that serves Israel's interests.

She points out that future arrangements may aim to change the reality of Gaza’s administration, leading to a reduction in the role of Hamas, suggesting that there may be a plan to introduce Arab forces into the Strip, perhaps with the participation of the Palestinian Authority, according to the vision of US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, which may be implemented after the arrangements for the first phase of the deal and end with negotiations to implement a new reality in Gaza.

Haddad stresses the need for a strong administration capable of meeting the needs of the citizens of Gaza, and rebuilding what was destroyed by the war in a fair and rapid manner.

Haddad believes that any failure to achieve this will keep the Gaza Strip in a state of prolonged crises, allowing Israel to exploit the security and political situation to its advantage, and keep Gaza in a state of instability.

This morning, Wednesday, the Israeli occupation forces launched a campaign of raids and arrests in the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem.

In Qalqilya, the occupation forces stormed the city from its eastern entrance, and deployed in various neighborhoods, including: Nazzal neighborhood, Al-Qar’an, Al-Wad Street, 22, Al-Habash, and Al-Razzaza. They deployed snipers around the Shraim neighborhood, and began searching citizens’ homes.

The occupation forces arrested Wael Badawi, Nidal Za’rab, and Abdullah Abu Sneineh, after raiding and searching their homes, and then withdrew from the city after a raid that lasted for more than four hours.

In Bethlehem, the occupation forces arrested Hamza Salama Al-Rashaydeh, his brother Ayoub, and Laith Hashem Al-Rashaydeh, after raiding and searching their families’ homes in the village of Al-Rashaydeh.

In Ramallah, the occupation soldiers stopped the vehicle of citizen Abed Musa Mazloum, near the military tower erected on the road between the villages of Ras Karkar and Kafr Ni’ma, and took him out of the vehicle, handcuffed him, along with his son, Iyad, and detained them.

In Tulkarm, the occupation forces arrested Hudhayfah al-Jallad (24 years old) and Balkhair Issam Qanbar (31 years old), a former detainee, after raiding their homes in the city.

In occupied Jerusalem, the occupation forces stormed the Semiramis area in Kafr Aqab, raided the homes of the Zaghir family, ransacked their contents, and stole gold jewelry and money from some homes.

In Nablus, the occupation forces stormed the village of Rojib, east of the city, with several military vehicles, and arrested the citizen Muhammad Ahmad Al-Halabi. They also raided the town of Asira al-Shamaliya, north of the city, and arrested the freed prisoner Ihab Shuli, after raiding their homes and tampering with their contents.

Last night and this morning, Wednesday, 13 citizens were killed and others were injured in Israeli occupation forces’ shelling of Gaza City and the Nuseirat camp.

Medical sources reported that seven citizens were killed and others were injured with varying degrees of injuries after the occupation forces bombed Al-Farabi School, which houses displaced people in the Yarmouk area of Gaza City.

He added that six citizens were killed and seven others were injured, including the head of the nursing department at Al-Awda Hospital, as a result of the occupation bombing a house in the Camp 2 area, south of Al-Nuseirat, in the central Gaza Strip.

The occupation forces have continued their aggression on the Gaza Strip, by land, sea and air, since October 7, 2023, which has resulted in the death of 46,645 citizens and the injury of 110,012 others, while thousands of victims are still under the rubble and on the roads, and ambulance and rescue crews are unable to reach them.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health is preparing to receive prisoners who may be released as part of an expected exchange deal between Israel and Hamas, negotiations for which have reached the final stages.

This came in a circular, on Tuesday evening, directed by the Acting Assistant Undersecretary for Hospitals and Emergency Affairs, Dr. Moatasem Mohsen, to hospital directors, asking them to prepare for the exchange deal.

The circular included, "In preparation for the prisoner exchange deal and the reception of our prisoners released from the occupation's prisons, immediate work is being done to prepare and equip an internal medicine clinic and a surgical clinic to examine, inspect and treat our imprisoned brothers and provide them with the necessary health care."

Tel Aviv is holding more than 10,400 Palestinians in its prisons, while it estimates that there are 99 Israeli prisoners in Gaza, while Hamas reported that dozens of its prisoners were killed in random Israeli raids.

On Tuesday, Hamas announced that the expected agreement to exchange prisoners and end the Israeli genocide in the Gaza Strip had reached its "final stages," with indirect negotiations continuing in Doha.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the agreement would be announced "within hours or days."

Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari announced in a press conference that the negotiations had reached the stage of "final details" and were "the closest point" to announcing an agreement.

For more than a year, Netanyahu bought time by repeatedly talking about alleged progress toward an agreement, then backed down and went deeper into a war of extermination and displacement of the Palestinians.

The progress in the current negotiations came after intense pressure from Steve Witkoff, US President-elect Donald Trump's envoy to the Middle East, on Netanyahu, during a "tense meeting" between them on Saturday, according to the Hebrew website "The Times of Israel" on Monday.

Six citizens were killed and others were injured, Tuesday evening, as a result of the occupation aircraft bombing a site in Jenin camp.

The Ministry of Health reported, in a brief statement, that 6 dead and several injuries arrived at Jenin Governmental Hospital, as a result of the occupation bombing of Jenin camp.

The official Israeli Broadcasting Corporation reported on Tuesday evening that the Israeli occupation army is preparing for a "gradual withdrawal" from the Gaza Strip with the entry into force of an expected ceasefire agreement, and indicated that it "may take a week to dismantle its positions in the Netzarim axis in the center of the Strip."

In a report on Tuesday evening, the Authority said that "meetings and assessments of the situation took place in the Southern Command of the Israeli army during the last 24 hours in preparation for a gradual withdrawal from the Strip with the start of the ceasefire agreement."

Quoting an unnamed security source, she said, "The Israeli army is preparing to withdraw from the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing shortly after the deal is signed."

According to the same source: "The Israeli withdrawal from the Philadelphi Corridor (on the border between Gaza and Egypt) was coordinated with Israeli, Egyptian and American security officials."

The Authority stated that "the army will withdraw from the Philadelphi corridor during the first days after signing the deal with Hamas."

But she said the army "may take a week to dismantle its positions and infrastructure it has built in the Netzarim axis in central Gaza."