Ceasefire Agreement Reached in Gaza After 15 Months of War
After 15 months of intense conflict in Gaza, a ceasefire agreement has reportedly been reached between Israel and Hamas, as confirmed by official sources from the United States, Egypt, and Israel. The announcement follows weeks of arduous negotiations in Doha, aimed at addressing the future of Gaza post-conflict, amidst a staggering toll of over 46,700 lives lost during the war.
The ceasefire plan outlines a three-phase approach. The initial phase is expected to be implemented swiftly post-signing. In this stage, Hamas is anticipated to deliver 33 hostages, a significant number of whom are believed to be deceased, primarily consisting of women, minors, and sick individuals aged over 50. Concurrently, Israel is to commence a gradual withdrawal of its military forces from northern Gaza while also releasing a portion of Palestinian prisoners held within Israeli jails.
Following months of negotiations, the details of the ceasefire were solidified, with mediators from Egypt and Qatar working alongside U.S. representatives. This agreement was notably catalyzed by the impending inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump on January 20, which created a sense of urgency to finalize terms. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar returned from a visit to Europe to participate in a crucial vote on the agreement that his government will undertake shortly.
Saar, while acknowledging the pain of the deal—given that Israel must release individuals categorized as dangerous in exchange for the hostages—asserted that securing the release of captured Israeli citizens remains a priority. Negotiations between Israeli and Hamas representatives primarily revolved around technicalities concerning the phased agreement, especially regarding the number and conditions for releasing hostages.
The second phase of the ceasefire will entail the withdrawal of the Israeli army from further areas within the Gaza Strip, the return of Gazan civilians to northern territories, and the handover of remaining hostages, including the return of deceased individuals' bodies. The third and final phase involves long-term discussions aimed at establishing a new governing administration for Gaza.
This agreement parallels a proposal from President Joe Biden’s administration, presented last May, which was initially rejected by Netanyahu's government but regained momentum with the current U.S. political scene. In a statement on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump proclaimed the deal a significant achievement and voiced gratitude for progress toward the release of hostages.
Emphasizing that this ceasefire could only have come about due to his administration's success in the November elections, Trump affirmed his commitment to ensuring that Gaza does not become a breeding ground for terrorism, hinting at further regional stability and the continuation of the Abraham Accords initiative.
This ceasefire marks a pivotal moment for both Israel and Hamas, with hopes that it will pave the way for lasting peace and security in the region. As both parties navigate this complex landscape, the world watches closely to see how these developments will shape future relations and stability in the Middle East.
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