Mediators said Wednesday that Israel and Hamas had reached a ceasefire agreement, halting the catastrophic 15-month conflict in the Gaza Strip and increasing the likelihood that the most deadly and destructive battle between the two rivals would come to an end.
Following weeks of arduous negotiations in the capital of Qatar, the agreement calls for the gradual release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israel, the return of hundreds of thousands of displaced Gaza residents to what is left of their homes, and the release of dozens of hostages held by Hamas. Additionally, it would flood a devastated region with desperately needed humanitarian aid.
A senior Israeli source stated that specifics are still being worked out, but three U.S. officials and one from Hamas acknowledged that an agreement had been reached.
Prior to the formal announcement by mediators in Doha, all three U.S. officials asked to remain anonymous in order to discuss the terms of the agreement.
According to authorities, President Joe Biden was getting ready to discuss the historic deal later Thursday.
Although Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Cabinet must yet accept any agreement, it is anticipated to take effect in the days ahead.
The agreement is anticipated to bring about a first six-week pause in hostilities, which will be followed by the start of talks to end the war completely.
After months in captivity with no communication with the outside world, 33 of the roughly 100 hostages are scheduled to be reunited with their loved ones over the course of six weeks, though it’s unclear if all are still alive.
It was still unclear whether the agreement would result in the full departure of Israeli troops from Gaza and the end of the conflict, which were two of Hamas’s main conditions for the release of the remaining prisoners, as well as when and how many displaced Palestinians would be allowed to return to what was left of their homes.
There are still a lot of long-term issues surrounding Gaza after the conflict, such as who will govern the region or manage the difficult rehabilitation process.
Nevertheless, the declaration provided the first glimmer of optimism in months that Israel and Hamas might be ending the bloodiest and most devastating war they have ever engaged in, one that has caused global outrage and destabilized the larger Middle East.
Hamas’ cross-border attack on October 7, 2023, which killed almost 1,200 Israelis and captured 250 more, set off the conflict. In response, Israel launched a brutal offensive that has caused a humanitarian crisis, displaced an estimated 90% of Gaza’s population, and killed approximately 46,000 Palestinians, according to local health experts.
In November 2023, a week-long truce in Gaza resulted in the release of over 100 hostages.
This latest agreement is the result of months of informal negotiations between the bitter rivals, which were mediated by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar. Following more than a year of fighting connected to the war in Gaza, Israel and the Lebanese militant organization Hezbollah reached a ceasefire agreement in November.
Over 46,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israel’s ruthless air and ground offensive in response, according to local health professionals. They claim that over half of the dead are women and children, but they do not differentiate between terrorists and civilians.
According to estimates from the United Nations and other humanitarian agencies, 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have been uprooted, frequently more than once. They claim that hospitals are hardly operating and that tens of thousands of homes have been damaged. In northern Gaza, where Israel began a massive offensive in early October, forcing tens of thousands of residents to flee, experts have warned that hunger may be on the horizon.
The happiest day of my life and the lives of Gazans, Abed Radwan, a father of three Palestinian children, spoke about the ceasefire agreement. I’m grateful. I’m grateful.
Radwan, who has taken refuge in Gaza City after being displaced from the town of Beit Lahiya for more than a year, stated that he will attempt to go back to his hometown and rehabilitate both Beit Lahiya and his home.
He had a phone conversation with AP. Celebrations have drowned out his voice. Here, people are crying. They don’t think it’s real.
