Gaza ceasefire deal reached by Israel and Hamas

Under the mediation of Qatar and the United States, Israel and Hamas reached an agreement on a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages, following 15 months of continuous fighting. Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani stated that the agreement would take effect on Sunday, pending approval from the Israeli cabinet. U.S. President Joe Biden said the agreement would "stop the fighting in Gaza, provide desperately needed humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians, and reunite hostages with their families."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the final details of the agreement were still being worked out, but he thanked Biden for "pushing" the deal. Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya said it was the result of the Palestinian people’s "resilience." Many Palestinians and families of Israeli hostages celebrated the news, but the war on the ground in Gaza did not stop. Hamas' civil defense agency reported that Israeli airstrikes killed more than 20 people after the ceasefire agreement was announced by Qatar, including 12 in a residential building in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood of Gaza City. The Israeli military has not yet responded.

Israel launched a military operation on October 7, 2023, aimed at destroying Hamas. This followed an unprecedented cross-border attack by Hamas on Israel that killed around 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage. Since then, more than 46,700 people have died in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza. Most of Gaza’s 2.3 million population have been displaced, the area has been extensively damaged, and there are severe shortages of food, fuel, medicine, and shelter due to difficulties in delivering aid. Israel says Hamas still holds 94 hostages, 34 of whom are presumed dead. Additionally, four Israelis were kidnapped before the war, two of whom have died.

The Qatari Prime Minister called for both sides to maintain "calm" ahead of the start of the first six-week phase of the ceasefire agreement. He said that during this phase, 33 hostages, including women, children, and the elderly, will be exchanged for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. Israeli forces will also retreat from densely populated areas of Gaza to the east, displaced Palestinians will be allowed to start returning to their homes, and hundreds of aid trucks will enter the area daily. Negotiations for a second phase will begin on day 16, which will include the release of the remaining hostages, a full withdrawal of Israeli forces, and the restoration of a "sustainable calm." The third and final phase will involve the reconstruction of Gaza, which could take years, and the return of any remaining hostage remains.

Sheikh Mohammed said that "there are clear mechanisms to negotiate the second and third phases" and the agreement will be published "in the coming days, once the details are finalized." He also said that Qatar, the US, and Egypt would work together to ensure Israel and Hamas meet their obligations. "We hope that this will be the last page of this war, and we hope that all parties are committed to implementing all terms of this agreement," he added. President Biden said the plan he first proposed eight months ago "is not only a result of the enormous pressure on Hamas and the changed regional situation following a ceasefire in Lebanon and a weakening of Iran's power, but also of persistent and meticulous American diplomacy."

“Even as we welcome this news, we remember all the families who lost loved ones in the Hamas attacks of October 7, and the many innocent people who have died in the war that followed,” a statement added. “Now is the time to end the fighting and begin building peace and security.” In a subsequent press conference, Biden also acknowledged the help of President-elect Donald Trump, who had applied pressure on both sides by demanding the release of hostages before his inauguration on Monday. “We have been speaking as a team for the last several days,” he said, noting that much of the implementation of the agreement would take place after he leaves office. Trump first confirmed reports that the agreement had been reached, preempting the White House and Qatar in making a formal announcement.

In a later social media post, he sought to take credit for the “epic” deal, saying it was “only a result of our historic victory in November.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office thanked Trump for “helping to promote the release of hostages and help Israel end the suffering of dozens of hostages and their families.” “The Prime Minister has made it clear that he is committed to the return of all hostages through all necessary means,” the statement said, adding that he also thanked Biden. Later, the office said that Netanyahu’s official statement would be released “only after the final details of the agreement are completed, which are currently underway.”

Israeli President Isaac Herzog said the agreement would bring “very painful” moments and “major challenges,” but that it was “the right move.” The agreement is expected to be approved by the Israeli cabinet on Thursday morning, despite opposition from Netanyahu’s far-right coalition partners. The Israeli government will then publish the names of all the Palestinian prisoners due to be released, and families of any victims will have 48 hours to file appeals. Some of the prisoners are serving time after being convicted of murder and terrorism.

Hamas’ chief negotiator and acting head of Gaza, Khalil al-Hayya, said the agreement represents “a milestone in the conflict with the enemy and a step on the road to achieving our people’s goals of liberation and return.” He added that the group would now seek to “rebuild Gaza, alleviate suffering and heal the wounds.” But he also warned that “we will not forget, and we will not forgive” the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza. Celebrations broke out across Gaza as news of the agreement spread. Pictures showed people cheering and waving Palestinian flags in the central Gaza town of Deir al-Balah and the southern city of Khan Younis.

“We are all so happy,” 17-year-old Sanabel, who lives in Gaza City in the north, told the BBC OS. “We have been waiting for so long. Finally, I can put my head on the pillow and sleep in peace… it is time to heal.” Nawara Najjar, whose husband was killed in an Israeli military operation to rescue two hostages, said: “After the ceasefire, I want to give my children the best life. I want them to overcome the fear that we have been through. My children are really scared. Fear has taken root in their hearts.”

Supporters of Israeli hostage families also celebrated in Tel Aviv. Sharon Lifschitz, a British-Israeli woman whose 84-year-old father, Oded, is one of the remaining hostages. Her mother, Yocheved, was also kidnapped in the October 7 attack but was released after weeks in captivity. When she heard the news of the agreement, she told the BBC in London that she felt "a bit of sanity," but admitted: "I know the chances for my father are very slim." "He is an old man, but miracles do happen. My mum did come back, and we will know anyway. We will know if he is still with us, and if he can be taken care of."

She warned: “There will be more graves and traumatized people coming back, but we will take care of them and bring them back to the light… may this be the start of good things.” Omri Miran's brother-in-law, Moshe Raveh, told the BBC it was “a very complex day” for most hostage families. Omri Miran is a 47-year-old father with two young children. “We want to see our families coming home from their mass captivity. But we also understand that this is a phased agreement. Only phase one has been agreed,” he said. “We have to continue to fight, to continue to advocate with all leaders in the name of the families, to make our government understand that they have to release all hostages.” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said “the immediate priority must be to alleviate the immense suffering caused by this conflict.”