- Israel and Hamas agree to a ceasefire and hostage release deal, effective Sunday, mediated by Qatar, the US, and Egypt.
- Initial phase includes exchanging 33 Israeli hostages for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza.
- Future phases aim for full Israeli troop withdrawal, sustainable calm, and Gaza reconstruction.
Israel’s government has approved a new Gaza ceasefire and hostage release agreement with Hamas, set to take effect on Sunday.
After extended discussions that went late into the night, the decision was finalized despite opposition from two far-right ministers. Earlier, the security cabinet had recommended ratifying the deal, stating it aligns with “the objectives of the war,” according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.
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The deal’s details, finalized after mediation by Qatar, the US, and Egypt, include the release of 33 Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails during an initial six-week phase.
Israeli forces will withdraw from densely populated areas of Gaza, allowing displaced Palestinians to begin returning home, while hundreds of aid trucks will be permitted entry daily.
Negotiations for the second phase—focused on the release of remaining hostages, a full Israeli troop withdrawal, and efforts to restore calm—are set to begin on the 16th day of the ceasefire. A third phase will address Gaza’s reconstruction and the return of any remaining hostages’ bodies.
Qatar stated the first group of hostages to be released would include women, children, the elderly, and the sick or wounded. Israel confirmed three hostages would be freed on the first day of the ceasefire, with additional groups released incrementally over six weeks.
The agreement follows the devastating October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack, which resulted in 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages taken. In response, Israel launched a military campaign against Hamas, designated as a terrorist organization by Israel, the US, and other countries.
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Since the start of the conflict, over 46,870 people in Gaza have been killed, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The territory faces widespread destruction, severe displacement, and critical shortages of essential supplies. Israel estimates 94 hostages remain in Hamas custody, with 34 presumed dead, along with four individuals abducted before the war.
