Celebrations have erupted in Gaza. People sing in the streets, families hug each other, and children dance — all smiling and joyfully expressing their happiness that a deal for a ceasefire, and hopefully an end to the genocide, has finally been announced.

The agreement and the captives’ release were announced in the early morning hours in Palestine, and are only part of the first stage of U.S. President Trump’s plan. The agreement will see a ceasefire, the release of the remaining Israeli captives in Gaza, the release of a number of Palestinian prisoners, and the retreat of Israeli forces to an agreed-upon location. It is expected to be signed between Israel and Hamas on Thursday afternoon in Egypt and will immediately go into effect.

“After responsible and serious negotiations, the Hamas movement and the Palestinian factions engaged in discussions about Trump’s plan in Sharm al-Sheikh, Egypt, aimed at reaching an end to the genocide of our Palestinian people and the withdrawal of the Israeli occupation from the Gaza Strip. The movement announced the reach of a deal that states to end the war in Gaza and the withdrawal of the occupation and aid entry and prisoner swap,” Hamas said in a statement after the announcement that a deal had been reached.

After days of skepticism over whether Trump’s so-called “peace” plan would actually result in a ceasefire, people in Gaza have overwhelmingly embraced the announcement. It’s a moment they have been waiting two years for — to know that the war is going to end, and that people will be able to go back to their homes and resume their lives without the daily killing.

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