RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- World leaders signed a ceasefire agreement on Monday, marking what many hope is the beginning of the end to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Under the agreement, the 20 remaining living hostages held by Hamas were released, while 1,900 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel were also released.

Experts like Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) international policy professor Chris Saladino say the deal is an important first step toward peace.

"What has happened in Gaza for the last two years, from anybody's perspective, has been horrific," he said.

Saladino said the agreement comes after years of ongoing conflict in the Middle East, rooted in decades of dispute over land ownership. He noted this is not the first attempt at a peace deal.

"Everybody s

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