Israel and Hamas have reached an agreement on a ceasefire-for-hostages deal after intensive mediation efforts by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani announced. The agreement is set to take effect on Sunday, pending approval by the Israeli cabinet.
US President Joe Biden described the deal as a measure to “halt the fighting in Gaza, surge much-needed humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians, and reunite the hostages with their families.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed gratitude to Biden for his role in advancing the agreement, while Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya credited Palestinian “resilience” for the breakthrough.
Despite the announcement, heavy fighting continued in Gaza. Israeli airstrikes reportedly killed over 20 people in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood of Gaza City shortly after the announcement, according to the Hamas-run Civil Defense agency. Israel has not commented on the strikes.
The ceasefire is slated to begin Sunday, though US Secretary of State Antony Blinken acknowledged that negotiators were working to resolve last-minute issues. Meanwhile, Israel postponed a cabinet meeting to ratify the agreement, blaming delays on Hamas.
The deal aims to address immediate humanitarian and security concerns. Qatar’s Prime Minister outlined the first six-week phase, during which 33 hostages, including women, children, and elderly individuals, will be exchanged for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
Israeli forces will withdraw from densely populated areas in Gaza, displaced Palestinians will begin returning home, and hundreds of aid trucks will be allowed into Gaza daily.
Negotiations for the second phase, set to start on the 16th day, will focus on releasing remaining hostages, a full Israeli troop withdrawal, and achieving sustainable calm. The third phase will involve Gaza’s reconstruction and returning the bodies of any remaining hostages.
President Biden attributed the deal’s success to American diplomacy, combined with the changing regional dynamics, including a ceasefire in Lebanon and Iran’s weakened influence. He also acknowledged US President-elect Donald Trump’s role in pressuring both parties. Trump was the first to confirm the agreement on social media, claiming credit for the “epic” deal, which he linked to his election victory.
Netanyahu’s office thanked both Trump and Biden for their efforts. “The prime minister made it clear that he is committed to returning all the hostages by any means necessary,” the statement read, noting that a formal statement would be issued after finalizing the agreement’s details.
Hamas’s negotiator, Khalil al-Hayya, hailed the deal as a milestone, pledging to rebuild Gaza while warning that the group would “not forget or forgive” the suffering inflicted on Palestinians.
The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a deadly assault on Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking 250 hostages. Israel’s subsequent offensive in Gaza has killed over 46,700 people, according to Gaza’s health ministry, displacing most of the 2.3 million residents.
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the agreement, emphasizing the need to alleviate the suffering caused by the conflict. (With inputs from agencies)