After a devastating 15-month war, Israel and Hamas have agreed to a three-phase ceasefire deal. According to the Associated Press, mediators announced the resolution on Wednesday, saying the two parties have agreed to pause the conflict in the Gaza Strip.
Per the agreement, the hostages who are held by militants in Gaza, as well as the Palestinian prisoners in Israel, will now be released. The ceasefire also allows displaced people in Gaza to return to their homes. Additionally, humanitarian aid will be distributed to the ravaged regions.
Qatar prime minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani announced that the agreement takes effect on Sunday. President Joe Biden also addressed the news, saying Israel and Hamas will continue to negotiate for a long-term agreement while the ceasefire remains in place.
In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said officials are still working on the details of ceasefire and it could be finalized soon. An anonymous Israeli official told the AP that officials are still confirming the name of Palestinian prisoners who will be freed. The official also said Netanyahu’s Cabinet must approve any agreement.
The ceasefire is expected to begin with a six-week pause that will allow an opportunity for 33 hostages to reunite with their loved ones. Many more hostages have been held for captive months, but it’s not clear how many of them are still alive. The agreement also still hasn’t confirmed how many Palestinians will return to their homes or if Israeli troops would withdraw from Gaza completely. Additionally, it’s not clear who will rule Gaza after the war.
Over 46,000 Palestinians have died since the war began on Oct. 7, 2023. Israel launched the offensive against Palestine on that day as a response to Hamas’ attack. In recent months, Egypt and Qatar came together with the U.S. and negotiated the ceasefire that culminated in the latest agreement between Israel and Hamas.
At least 90% of Gaza’s people have been displaced due to the war, the U.N. and international relief organizations reported. Thousands of homes have also been destroyed while dozens of hospitals are damaged.
Abed Radwan, a father of three, is one of the thousands of Palestinians who is now celebrating the ceasefire.
“The best day in my life and the life of the Gaza people … Thank God. Thank God,” Radwan told the AP.
