Israel escalated its airstrikes on Gaza just hours after a ceasefire and hostage release agreement was announced, according to local residents and authorities in the Palestinian territory. Mediators are working to prevent further violence as the truce is set to begin on Sunday.

The intricate ceasefire arrangement between Israel and Hamas, the governing body in Gaza, was reached on Wednesday following extensive negotiations led by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, amidst 15 months of conflict that has severely impacted the region.

The agreement stipulates an initial six-week ceasefire, during which Israeli forces will gradually withdraw from the Gaza Strip, a region that has seen tens of thousands of casualties. In return for the release of hostages held by Hamas, Palestinian prisoners detained by Israel will be freed.

During a press conference in Doha, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani announced that the ceasefire is scheduled to commence on Sunday. He indicated that negotiators are currently collaborating with both Israel and Hamas to finalize the implementation of the agreement.

“This deal will bring an end to the hostilities in Gaza, facilitate essential humanitarian aid for Palestinian civilians, and reunite hostages with their families after enduring over 15 months of captivity,” stated U.S. President Joe Biden from Washington. His successor, Donald Trump, who will assume office on Monday, has claimed credit for facilitating the agreement in Gaza.

The formal acceptance of the deal by Israel is contingent upon approval from the country’s security cabinet and government, with votes anticipated on Thursday, according to an Israeli official.

The agreement was anticipated to receive approval despite resistance from certain hardliners within Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition government. While celebrations erupted in both Gaza and Israel, the Israeli military intensified its attacks following the announcement, according to reports from the civil emergency service and local residents.

Intense Israeli bombardment, particularly in Gaza City, resulted in the deaths of 32 individuals late Wednesday, as reported by medical personnel. The strikes persisted into early Thursday, demolishing homes in Rafah, Nuseirat, and northern Gaza, according to residents.

The Israeli military did not provide an immediate response, and there were no indications of Hamas launching attacks on Israel following the ceasefire declaration. A Palestinian official involved in the ceasefire discussions indicated that mediators were working to encourage both parties to halt hostilities prior to the ceasefire taking effect.

CELEBRATION IN GAZA

On social media, some residents of Gaza advised caution, fearing that Israel might increase its attacks in the coming days to gain an advantage before the ceasefire is implemented. Nonetheless, the announcement of the ceasefire agreement ignited celebrations in Gaza, where residents have been enduring critical shortages of food, water, shelter, and fuel. In Khan Younis, crowds filled the streets, honking horns, waving Palestinian flags, and dancing in joy.

“I am happy. Yes, I am crying, but those are tears of joy,” expressed Ghada, a mother of five who has been displaced.

In Tel Aviv, the families and friends of Israeli hostages expressed their profound joy and relief upon hearing the news of an agreement aimed at bringing their loved ones home. In a statement, they conveyed their overwhelming emotions regarding the development.

Hamas, in a social media announcement regarding the ceasefire, described the agreement as “an achievement for our people” and a significant turning point.

If the ceasefire proves effective, it will put an end to the hostilities that have devastated much of densely populated Gaza, resulting in over 46,000 fatalities and displacing a majority of the enclave’s pre-war population of 2.3 million, as reported by Gaza authorities. This could potentially ease tensions throughout the broader Middle East, where the conflict has exacerbated strife in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Iraq, raising concerns about a full-scale war between Israel and Iran.

With 98 Israeli hostages still in Gaza, the initial phase of the agreement involves the release of 33 hostages, which includes all women, children, and men over the age of 50. Among those set to be released in this first phase are two American hostages, Keith Siegel and Sagui Dekel-Chen, according to a source.

FOOD LINED UP AT THE GAZA’S BORDERS

The agreement also stipulates an increase in humanitarian aid to Gaza, with the U.N. and the International Committee of the Red Cross preparing to enhance their assistance efforts. “A ceasefire is just the beginning, not the conclusion. We have food ready at the borders of Gaza and need to facilitate its entry on a large scale,” stated Cindy McCain, executive director of the World Food Program, on X.

The global response to the ceasefire was overwhelmingly positive, with leaders and officials from Egypt, Turkey, Britain, the United Nations, the European Union, Jordan, Germany, and the United Arab Emirates, among others, expressing their support for the development. Both President Biden and former President Trump took credit for the agreement, which had been in the works for months and was facilitated by a Trump envoy.

Steve Witkoff, Trump’s envoy to the Middle East, participated in discussions in Qatar alongside White House representatives. A senior official from the Biden administration noted that Witkoff’s involvement was essential in finalizing an agreement following 96 hours of rigorous negotiations. President Biden remarked that the two delegations had “been speaking as one.”

Families of Israeli hostages voiced their apprehensions regarding the potential incomplete execution of the agreement, fearing that some hostages might remain in Gaza. Negotiations for the second phase of the agreement are set to commence on the 16th day of the first phase, which is anticipated to encompass the release of all remaining hostages, a lasting ceasefire, and the total withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

The third phase will focus on the return of all deceased individuals and the initiation of Gaza’s reconstruction, overseen by Egypt, Qatar, and the United Nations. If the process proceeds without issues, it will still require consensus among Palestinians, Arab nations, and Israel on a vision for post-war Gaza, particularly regarding governance in the region after the conflict.

Israeli forces launched an incursion into Gaza following an attack by Hamas-led militants on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 soldiers and civilians, along with the abduction of over 250 hostages, according to Israeli reports.