The people of the Gaza Strip have the right to celebrate and emerge from the rubble and tents, and walk the remnants of the streets since dawn yesterday, to cheer the cessation of battles and the bloodshed, and to put an end to the genocide war they have endured for two years and two days.

The people in Gaza cannot believe that the war will stop, that their ordeal is nearing its end, and that they can now heal their wounds, rebuild their homes and vital infrastructure such as roads, schools, and hospitals, eat and drink like all humans, gradually regain their freedom, return to life, and that the occupation will end. Yet, the sorrow remains over the thousands of victims, families erased from civil records, and hundreds of thousands of wounded still needing treatment inside and outside.

The important thing is that the massacre has stopped, which is a significant and important achievement, a turning point in the Gaza war, marking the first phase of the implementation of US President Donald Trump’s plan, hoping to implement the rest of the plan’s provisions, possibly leading to a political solution that achieves security, just and comprehensive peace, and leads to a two-state solution.

Since the UAE provided notable political and relief efforts from the very start of the war to support the Palestinian people and their steadfastness, and took the initiative to support all efforts to stop the fire, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed in a statement yesterday President Donald Trump’s announcement of reaching an agreement on the first phase of the ceasefire in Gaza, “urging the parties to reach urgent understandings to stop the tragic war and work to establish peace and stability in the Strip.” It expressed hope that “this agreement will be a positive step towards ending the humanitarian suffering in the Strip and paving the way for a just and lasting settlement that guarantees the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.”

The agreement came into effect yesterday, and the killing and destruction machinery stopped, hoping to continue until the end, awaiting the start within the next 72 hours of the process of returning Israeli prisoners after Israeli forces withdraw to the yellow line. The return of the bodies of the dead will be delayed, as a special task force involving Egypt, the United States, and Turkey will be established to reach points where intelligence indicates the bodies were specifically buried. Israel will release about 1,700 Palestinian prisoners and 250 prisoners serving life sentences. The Rafah crossing will be reopened for the first time in a year and a half, where the largest land bridge is being prepared to transfer humanitarian aid to the entire Strip.

President Trump announced at dawn yesterday the approval of Israel and Hamas to implement the first phase of his plan, describing the agreement as “a great day for the Arab and Islamic worlds, Israel, all neighboring countries, and the United States.”

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi expressed his anticipation to welcome President Trump in Egypt to witness the signing of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza in a “celebration befitting the event,” but the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper indicated that Trump will visit Israel on Saturday/Sunday and deliver a speech in the Knesset.

The important thing is that the first phase of Trump’s plan is underway, and the most important is to continue negotiations to complete the full implementation of the plan, reach solutions related to reconstruction, full withdrawal of Israeli forces, the fate of Hamas, and who will govern Gaza. All these issues require great diplomatic effort and sincerity in implementation to open a negotiation path leading to a comprehensive and just solution to the Palestinian cause.