TEL AVIV: Peace after 15 months of war. Israel's war in Gaza, which began on October 7, 2023, had claimed more than 46,640 Palestinian lives. The ceasefire decision came at a time when the war was terrorizing the West. Mediators Qatar, Egypt and the US worked hard to secure a ceasefire and the release of hostages held by Hamas. The mediator countries were optimistic about the ongoing negotiations in Doha from the beginning itself. Pressure from US President-elect Donald Trump was also crucial for the ceasefire. The US was trying to reach a ceasefire agreement before Trump took office on the 20th. Trump threatened that "all hell will break out" in the Middle East if hostages were not released by Hamas before his inauguration. When Hamas initially took a positive stance on the draft, Israel's reaction was decisive.

Netanyahu succumbed to pressure

Hamas had demanded that the Israeli army withdraw completely from Gaza. However, Israel had previously said that it would not withdraw without the release of hostages and the elimination of Hamas. On one side the Israeli people protesting that the hostages should be returned as soon as possible—the opposition of the extreme right-wing parties that are part of the cabinet on the other side. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir responded that the agreement with Hamas was tantamount to surrender. Netanyahu needs their support to retain power. With Trump's intervention, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was under intense pressure.

After the assassination of Hamas chief Yahya Ibrahim Hassan Sinwar in October last year, Israel was thought to be ready for a ceasefire. Israel had also killed the former head of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, and the head of its ally, Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah. Israel announced a cease-fire with Hezbollah on the Lebanese border in November after accepting an arbitration agreement mediated by the US and France. Israeli leaders were also unhappy with the prolongation of the Gaza war. Netanyahu fired Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for publicly raising the issue.