A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas went into effect at noon on Friday, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). This marks the first phase of a U.S.-backed peace plan which calls for the release of all 20 surviving Israeli hostages in exchange for around 250 Palestinian prisoners and 1,700 detainees from Gaza.

Tawfiq al-Tirawi, who serves on the Central Committee of Fatah, a major Palestinian faction, said the completion of this first phase, including the release of hostages, could ease public pressure on Israel. "At that point, I believe the Israeli position may change, or it may try to seize some opportunities to alter its stances," he said.

Al-Tirawi also emphasized the importance of Palestinian unity moving forward, underlining the need for a coordinated approach in political efforts.