After more than a year of deadly fighting in Gaza, a ceasefire agreement was reached that included the release of Israeli hostages and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said the ceasefire would come into effect on Sunday.
The film follows weeks of painstaking negotiations in Doha, set against the backdrop of the Gaza war that has left tens of thousands of Palestinians dead and many more injured and displaced.
Following the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas, Israel launched a ground offensive that left 1,200 people dead and approximately 250 hostages, destroying much of the populated area.
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Reuters reported, citing officials briefed on the deal, that the agreement includes a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from central Gaza and the return of Palestinians to northern Gaza over a six-week period. It outlines the initial ceasefire phase.
Hamas announced the release of 33 hostages, including women, children and all men over the age of 50.
Israel will release between 990 and 1,650 Palestinian prisoners and detainees in exchange for the release of the hostages.
Israel releases 30 Palestinian detainees for every civilian hostage released by Hamas, and 50 Palestinian detainees for every Israeli female soldier.
There will also be a surge in humanitarian aid to Gaza as part of the deal.
The day before an agreement was reportedly reached, smoke rose from northern Gaza. Photo: Reuters
While officials on multiple sides report that a deal has indeed been reached, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said that “there are still some provisions in the outline that are outstanding… details will be finalized tonight.” I look forward to it.”
Negotiations on the second phase of the agreement are scheduled to begin on the 16th, and are expected to include the release of all remaining hostages, including male Israeli soldiers, a permanent ceasefire, and a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces.
The third phase is scheduled to return the bodies of the dead hostages and begin rebuilding Gaza, under the supervision of Egypt, Qatar and the United Nations.
The Israeli government plans to vote on the Gaza deal on Thursday, officials said.
In a speech to the nation, Israeli President Isaac Herzog called on the government to approve the deal, saying: “This is the right thing to do.”
“This is an important move. This is a necessary move.”
He added: “Let us have no illusions. Once this agreement is signed, approved and implemented, there will be very painful, difficult and distressing moments.”
“It will also pose significant challenges. This is not a simple situation. This is one of the greatest challenges we have ever known.”
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See a timeline of war events spanning over a year
The faces of the 94 hostages who have not yet returned home
What does the agreement say?
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Hours later, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office announced that Netanyahu had met with US President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump.
Prime Minister Netanyahu thanked both countries for helping to free the hostages and agreed to meet with Trump in Washington to discuss how Gaza is by no means a “heaven for terrorism.”
Immediately after the ceasefire was announced, Hamas’ deputy director of the Gaza Strip, Khalil al-Haya, said in a televised speech that Israel had failed to achieve its goals in the Palestinian territories.
He also vowed that Hamas would not forgive or forget Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Analysis: This deal wouldn’t have happened without Trump
Palestinians celebrate in Khan Yunis, south of Gaza. Photo: Reuters
World leaders react to ceasefire agreement
Palestinians held celebrations in Khan Yunis in the Gaza Strip following news of a possible ceasefire agreement, while Israelis were seen reacting on the streets of Tel Aviv.
President Biden said the deal came after “months of intensive diplomacy” and that he was “excited” that the hostages would be reunited with their families.
“My diplomacy has never stopped striving to accomplish this,” he added.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “After months of devastating bloodshed and countless lives lost, this is the news that the Israeli and Palestinian people have been waiting for for many years.”
Trump, who will be sworn in as US president again in a few days, said: “We have an agreement on the hostages in the Middle East. They will be released soon.”
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi stressed the importance of providing humanitarian aid to Gaza residents “until sustainable peace is achieved through a two-state solution.”
UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who has been a strong critic of Israel during the conflict, said this evening: “The United Nations stands ready to support the implementation of this agreement and to scale up the provision of sustained humanitarian aid to the millions of Palestinians who continue to suffer.” There is,” he said. . ”
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Palestinians celebrate ceasefire agreement
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What about humanitarian aid to Gaza?
The deal calls for 600 aid trucks to be allowed into Gaza each day, but a senior UN official said this could become difficult if the deal does not include security measures. I warned you that there is.
“Security is not (the responsibility of) humanitarian actors. And it is a very chaotic environment. The risk is from humanitarian actors.
A vacuum would add to the chaos,” the official told Reuters.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has previously expressed his determination to destroy Hamas, a Palestinian militant group that killed 1,200 people and took about 250 hostages when it entered Israel from Gaza on October 7, 2023. .
More than 45,000 Palestinians have been killed in subsequent Israeli attacks on Gaza, according to the Hamas-led Gaza Strip Health Ministry.
The Gaza Ministry of Health does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in casualty numbers, but said more than half of the dead were women and children.
