Is the Gaza war finally ending? Hamas, Israel pursue peace

Israel and Hamas are close to ending the long-drawn war in Gaza, which has killed nearly 70,000, displaced millions and caused widespread destruction. The 'first phase' of their path to peace has already been initiated, as claimed by US President Donald Trump.

Qatar, one of the mediators, said the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement will lead to ending the war, the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and the entry of aid.

Hostage deal is the highlight of this step. Palestinian militant group Hamas is to release all hostages while Israel would pull its troops back to an agreed-upon line. Israel will also send back 2,000 Palestinian prisoners as part of the deal's first phase.

The exchange should take place within 72 hours of the implementation of the deal, which was also "agreed with Palestinian factions", another Hamas source told news agency AFP.

The second highlight is the resumption of aid into the war-torn territory. A daily minimum of 400 trucks of aid will enter the Gaza Strip for the first five days of the ceasefire. It wil be increased in following days, AFP reported citing unnamed sources.

The deal stipulates "scheduled withdrawals" of Israeli troops, the Hamas top official said, and includes "guarantees from President Trump and the mediators".

Hamas called in an official statement on Trump to compel Israel to fully implement the agreement and "not allow it to evade or procrastinate in implementing what has been agreed".

Trump's 20-point plan

Qatari foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said both sides have already agreed "on all the provisions and implementation mechanisms of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement".

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he will convene his government on Thursday to approve the agreement.

The deal will be formally signed on Thursday around midday in Egypt, a source with knowledge of the agreement told AFP on condition of anonymity.

A Hamas official said negotiations for the second phase of the ceasefire would begin "immediately".

Trump said Wednesday he believed all the hostages, including the deceased will be "coming back" Monday.