In a major breakthrough, Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, announced on Wednesday that Israel and Hamas have reached an agreement for a ceasefire and a hostage exchange deal.
The accord, brokered through mediation by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, aims to de-escalate hostilities in Gaza and facilitate the release of detainees on both sides.
According to the deal, Hamas will release 33 hostages, including five female Israeli soldiers, who were seized during the attacks of October 7, 2023.
In exchange, Israel will release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, with conditions attached to certain detainees’ relocation.
Convicted militants serving life sentences will not return to the West Bank but will be relocated to Gaza or abroad.
According to the CNN, the agreement includes a 42-day ceasefire during which the Israeli military is expected to withdraw from densely populated areas in Gaza, maintaining a buffer zone along the Gaza-Israel border and securing the Gaza-Egypt border known as the Philadelphi Corridor.
Before the deal takes effect, the Israeli cabinet must approve it by a simple majority. The Israeli Supreme Court will also hear petitions from those opposing the release of Palestinian prisoners.
Hamas has already approved the agreement, with senior official Basem Naim confirming its response to mediators.
In a statement, Hamas highlighted the importance of the agreement as a step to “stop the Zionist aggression” and address the “massacres and genocide” in Gaza.
The phased nature of the agreement and its emphasis on consultation with allied groups are seen as attempts to ensure the deal’s success.
While this development offers a glimmer of hope, observers caution that the ceasefire’s sustainability depends on both sides adhering to the terms amidst long-standing tensions.
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