A draft truce agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas was drawn up by Qatari, American and Egyptian mediators. It notably provides for the release of hostages held in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners incarcerated by Israel.
The war was sparked on October 7 by an unprecedented attack by Hamas on Israeli soil, which resulted in the death of more than 1,160 people, the majority civilians. In response, Israel vowed to “annihilate” Hamas and launched a military offensive which left 27,238 dead.