A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is set to take effect Thursday evening, pending formal ratification by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. According to Reuters, once approved, a 24-hour appeal period will follow before the truce officially begins. Hamas will then have 72 hours to meet its obligation under the agreement — releasing all hostages, both living and deceased — which would likely conclude by Monday.

The deal, though not formally signed, is based on a mutual understanding mediated by the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt. A joint task force composed of representatives from those nations and Israel will work to locate the bodies of remaining hostages whose whereabouts remain unknown. While the ceasefire offers a temporary reprieve, questions linger about whether this pause signals a step toward lasting peace — or merely another brief calm before the next storm in the region’s long and turbulent history.

SOURCE: Jerusalem Post