What to know about the Gaza deal

illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Wall Street Journal or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: All 20 surviving Israeli hostages held in Gaza have been released by Hamas, marking the first concrete step in a tentative peace agreement between Israel and Hamas
• In exchange, Israel released nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees
• The mutual releases follow both parties’ preliminary acceptance of a 20-point peace plan aimed at ending the two-year conflict

🔭 The context: The deal comes after months of international mediation and rising political pressure to resolve the prolonged violence that has destabilized the region
• President Donald Trump visited Israel and addressed the Knesset on Monday, signaling U.S. involvement in pushing forward the broader peace roadmap
• He later traveled to Egypt to participate in a summit intended to maintain diplomatic momentum

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: While primarily a geopolitical breakthrough, the peace process could have far-reaching consequences for regional stability and reconstruction — including the rehabilitation of damaged urban and natural ecosystems in Gaza
• Long-term peace would open pathways for sustainable development, energy cooperation, and humanitarian aid access, which are essential for climate resilience and recovery in the region

⏭️ What's next: Subsequent phases of the peace plan will address more contentious issues, including border arrangements, security guarantees, governance in Gaza, and regional normalization
• While the release of hostages is a major symbolic and humanitarian step, the durability of the agreement hinges on complex negotiations over the coming months
• Regional actors and international mediators will play pivotal roles in enforcing compliance and preventing relapse into violence

💬 One quote: “This is not the end, but it is a beginning — a moment of hope after years of pain,” a senior Israeli official commented following the exchange

📈 One stat: Nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners were released as part of the first phase of the agreement — the largest such release in over a decade

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