Israel and Hamas have agreed on a three-stage Gaza ceasefire agreement in a major development after 15 months of conflict. Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani revealed the news on Wednesday at a news conference in Doha. It is called the “Gaza ceasefire agreement.” The deal hopes to put a stop to continuing violence and help pave the way for lasting peace in the area.
Key Points of the Gaza Ceasefire Agreement
The first phase of the truce will focus on the swap of hostages and prisoners, thus bringing back calm and opening up the way for further negotiations. Under the deal, 33 Israeli captives being held in Gaza, including nine who are ill or injured, will be released. In exchange, Israel will release 1,000 Palestinian prisoners who have been detained since October 2023, with special provisions for life-sentenced detainees and those re-arrested after their release in the 2011 Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange.
In addition, Israel will continue to withdraw its forces from Gaza’s densely populated regions, like the Netzarim Corridor, sometimes called the “axis of death” by Palestinians. The partial withdrawal would take place after 42 days of the truce and would last until day 50. Israel’s troops would withdraw to a new fence line beside the border but stay at five main points around Gaza.
Humanitarian Provisions and Next Steps
The agreement also discusses humanitarian measures including the reopening of the Rafah crossing for evacuation purposes. Every day, 50 wounded Palestinian combatants and civilians will be authorized to cross the border into Egypt for treatment subject to joint control by Israeli and Egyptian authorities.
Displaced Palestinians will be allowed to return to northern Gaza in phases. Unarmed civilians will start returning on the seventh day of the ceasefire, with vehicles subject to inspections as determined by international mediators.
The second phase is supposed to start on the 16th day of the ceasefire. This will deal with negotiations to get a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza in exchange for the release of all remaining Israeli captives. Discussions on long-term reconstruction and governance in Gaza fall under the third phase.
Since October 2023, over 46,000 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, have lost their lives due to intense military operations, with over 110,000 wounded.
Also, see: Long-awaited Gaza ceasefire deal may soon become reality