This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity.

Today's announcement of a cease fire / hostage deal between, Hamas and Israel is a significant, first step towards ending the conflict, in Gaza that, started right after the horrific attacks perpetrated by Hamas, against Israel. This is, of course, long overdue. And as President Biden mentioned, this agreement is very much based on the parameters that he had announced back in May, which, of course, had this deal taken place before, today, it would have definitely, spared many innocent lives that have been killed, in the first in the last few months. 

So this deal is, as you know, outlined earlier, has three different phases where there are, a number of hostages, Israeli hostages, that will be released, in phases in the first stage, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners that, many Palestinians believe are wrongfully, held in Israeli prisons. And the the second phase also will see some redeployment of Israeli forces away from densely populated areas, allowing Palestinians to return, to their homes or whatever is left of their homes at this point, more than 80%, of buildings and infrastructure have been destroyed. 

So it's a very difficult situation. 

But finally, the last stage is, agreeing on this withdrawal of Israeli forces, as well as ensuring that all hostages are returned in exchange for the remaining Palestinian prisoners that are agreed to under this, under this deal, the United States, Biden administration has been working tirelessly, over the last, few months, to ensure that this deal goes through, of course, both key US allies, Qatar, and Egypt, have been critical, in brokering this deal, going back and forth, as interlocutors with, Hamas and the the three countries are guarantors, as they mentioned in the statement, guarantors of this deal. 

So I think what is critical is for the United States as well as Qatar and Egypt, but also the international community, to ensure that both sides honor this agreement in order for this conflict to end once and for all, the road ahead very much hinges on the success of this agreement. But the hope is that it will lead towards, reconstruction, rebuilding, rehabilitation, as well as hopefully, peaceful reconciliation between the Israelis and Palestinians. Many people are skeptical in the region, as well as, but especially in Israel. But that's the only way to guarantee Israel's security, and to ensure to implement the, the creation of, of, a Palestinian state.