Israel and Hamas have reached an agreement for a ceasefire and the release of hostages after 15 months of conflict, according to mediators Qatar and the US.
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani announced that the deal would take effect on Sunday, pending approval by the Israeli cabinet.
US President Joe Biden stated the agreement would "halt the fighting in Gaza, deliver much-needed humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians, and reunite hostages with their families."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned that final details of the deal were still being finalized, but expressed gratitude to Biden for his efforts in facilitating the agreement. Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya described the deal as a result of Palestinian "resilience."
Many Palestinian and Israeli hostages' families celebrated the announcement of a potential ceasefire, but fighting on the ground in Gaza continued. The Hamas-run Civil Defence agency reported that Israeli air strikes killed over 20 people after the Qatari announcement, including 12 people in a residential building in Gaza City's Sheikh Radwan neighborhood. The Israeli military did not provide an immediate comment.
The Israeli military launched its campaign to dismantle Hamas, a group designated as a terrorist organization by Israel, the US, and other nations, after a cross-border attack on October 7, 2023, in which around 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage. Since then, over 46,700 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The population of Gaza, numbering 2.3 million, has faced mass displacement, widespread destruction, and severe shortages of food, fuel, medicine, and shelter due to difficulties in delivering aid.
Israel reports that 94 hostages are still being held by Hamas, with 34 presumed dead. Additionally, four Israelis were abducted before the war, two of whom have since died.
The ceasefire and hostage exchange deal was announced by Qatar's Prime Minister, who called for "calm" on both sides as they prepare to begin the first phase of the agreement. This phase will involve the exchange of 33 hostages, including women, children, and elderly individuals, for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. Israeli forces will also retreat from densely populated Gaza areas, displaced Palestinians will be allowed to return to their homes, and hundreds of aid trucks will be allowed to enter Gaza.
Negotiations for the second phase, which would aim to release the remaining hostages, see a full Israeli troop withdrawal, and establish sustainable calm, will begin on day 16 of the ceasefire. The final phase will focus on Gaza's reconstruction and the return of any remaining hostages' bodies. Israel's cabinet is scheduled to meet on Thursday to approve the deal.
The first exchange of hostages is expected to occur on Sunday, although a senior Hamas official indicated that efforts are underway to bring it forward to Thursday night. Sheikh Mohammed of Qatar stated that a "clear mechanism" for phases two and three is in place, with the details to be finalized and published soon. He emphasized that Qatar, the US, and Egypt will work together to ensure both Israel and Hamas fulfill their obligations, expressing hope that this agreement would mark "the last page of the war."
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