Kathmandu: Israel and Hamas have reached a ceasefire and hostage release agreement after 15 months of intense conflict, according to mediators Qatar and the United States.
The deal, expected to take effect on Sunday pending Israeli cabinet approval, will pause hostilities in Gaza, facilitate humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians, and reunite hostages with their families. US President Joe Biden called it a step toward peace and thanked Qatari and Egyptian mediators.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed gratitude to President Biden for supporting the agreement but noted that final details were still under discussion. Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya credited Palestinian resilience for the breakthrough.
Despite the announcement, violence continued in Gaza. The Hamas-run Civil Defence agency reported Israeli airstrikes killed over 20 people, including 12 in Gaza City’s Sheikh Radwan neighborhood. The Israeli military has not commented.
Key Details of the Agreement:
Hostage Exchange: An initial phase will see 33 Israeli hostages, including women, children, and elderly individuals, swapped for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
Ceasefire: Israeli forces will withdraw from densely populated areas, and displaced Palestinians will be allowed to return home.
Aid Delivery: Hundreds of aid trucks will enter Gaza daily, addressing severe shortages of essentials.
Future Phases: The second phase aims for the release of remaining hostages and a full Israeli troop withdrawal. The third phase focuses on Gaza’s reconstruction, expected to take years.
Celebrations erupted in Gaza and Israel as news spread. Palestinians in Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis cheered the agreement, while families of hostages in Israel expressed cautious hope.
The war, which began on October 7, 2023, following a Hamas cross-border attack that killed about 1,200 people, has claimed over 46,700 lives in Gaza, per the Hamas-run health ministry. Most of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have been displaced, with critical shortages of food, medicine, and shelter persisting.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the deal, emphasizing the urgent need to alleviate the immense suffering caused by the conflict.
Source: BBC