- Israel and Hamas agree to Gaza ceasefire
- Details are still being finalised, Israel’s cabinet to meet on Thursday morning to finalise deal
- First phase will see 33 hostages released in exchange for prisoners
- Aid trucks will be allowed into the area and Israel forces to pull back from densely populated areas
Israel and Hamas agree to Gaza ceasefire
Israel and Hamas have reached a ceasefire and hostage release agreement after 15 months of conflict, according to mediators Qatar and the United States. While details are still being finalised, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged the progress and thanked U.S. President Joe Biden for supporting the deal. Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya attributed the agreement to the resilience of the Palestinian people.
The announcement was met with celebrations among Palestinian and Israeli hostages’ families. However, violence persisted on the ground in Gaza. The Hamas-run Civil Defence agency reported that Israeli airstrikes killed over 20 people, including 12 residents of a building in Gaza City’s Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood. The Israeli military has not commented on these reports.
The first phase of the ceasefire, expected to last six weeks, will involve the release of 33 hostages, including women, children, and elderly individuals, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Israeli forces are set to pull back from densely populated areas of Gaza, allowing displaced Palestinians to return home. Hundreds of aid trucks will also be permitted to enter Gaza daily.
Negotiations for a second phase will begin on the 16th day, focusing on the release of remaining hostages, a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops, and efforts to establish long-term calm. The final stage will centre on the reconstruction of Gaza, a process anticipated to take years and the return of any remaining hostages’ bodies.
Israel’s cabinet is scheduled to meet on Thursday morning to give final approval to the agreement.