ISRAEL AND HAMAS HAVE FINALLY AGREED TO A CEASEFIRE DEAL FOR GAZA
Both side agreed to the first phase of a ceasefire deal beginning on Jan. 19 that would temporarily pause fighting, see the release of hostages from both sides and lead to “a prolonged truce that achieves a permanent ceasefire between the two sides."
Israel and Hamas have officially agreed to a deal for a ceasefire in Gaza after 15 months of Israel’s genocide that has killed more than 46,707 Palestinians.
Qatar’s prime minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani confirmed on Wednesday, Jan. 15, that both sides had agreed to the first phase of a ceasefire deal beginning on Sunday, Jan. 19, that would temporarily pause fighting, see the release of hostages from both sides and lead to “a prolonged truce that achieves a permanent ceasefire between the two sides."
Under the deal, the initial halt in fighting would last six weeks, during which Hamas will release 33 Israeli hostages, primarily women, children and elderly people.
In return, Israel will release about 2,000 Palestinians it is holding in its prisoners, including approximately 250 serving life sentences.
Israeli troops will withdraw from populated areas in Gaza to about 700 meters from Gaza’s border with Israel.
Israel will also allow up to 600 trucks of aid to enter Gaza and for injured Palestinians to leave the Gaza Strip for treatment, opening the Rafah crossing with Egypt seven days after the first phase begins.
The deal is expected to consist of three phases, with the second and third phases to be negotiated during the six week pause.
The second phase will reported see Hamas release all remaining living hostages, mostly male soldiers, for Israel to return more Palestinians detained in Israel’s prisons.
Israel would also begin its “complete withdrawal” from Gaza, according to the current document, Al Jazeera reported.
The details of the third phase are less clear but are expected to involve Hamas returning the bodies of remaining hostages and a three- to five-year reconstruction plan under international supervision.
However, disagreements still remain over who will govern Gaza after the war.
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Kassy Cho
Kassy Cho
