Israel and Hamas have negotiated a cease-fire agreement to halt the 15-month-long conflict in Gaza, which has killed over 46,000 people, US President Joe Biden announced.
The conflict, which began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants attacked Israel with rockets, has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and has kept the Middle East on edge throughout.
Israel and Hamas agreed a cease-fire and hostage agreement
following months of rigorous diplomacy by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, Israel and Hamas agreed a cease-fire and hostage agreement. This agreement will put an end to the war in Gaza, provide much-needed humanitarian aid to Palestinian people, and reunite captives with their families after more than 15 months in captivity,” the White House cited Biden as saying.
The agreement between the warring groups includes a six-week preliminary ceasefire phase, a systematic withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, and an exchange of hostages held by the various parties, according to Biden, who also stated that the truce pact is divided into three phases.
The outgoing President admitted that the US assisted in the release of captives during the first phase of the agreement.
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“During the next six weeks, Israel will negotiate what’s needed to get [to] phase two, which is a permanent conclusion to the war,” he told reporters.
Israel has promised to let injured Palestinians to leave Gaza for medical care and to reopen the Rafah connection with Egypt seven days after the first phase of the accord starts.
Although the second and third phases have been agreed upon in principle, they will be negotiated during the first. US President Joe Biden has stated that the ceasefire will remain in place even if negotiations for the latter phase last longer than the initial six weeks.
In the second phase, provided conditions are reached, Hamas will free all remaining captives, predominantly male troops, in exchange for the release of additional Palestinians. Israel would also begin its full departure from Gaza.
During the final phase, Hamas would return the bodies of the remaining detainees. In exchange, a three- to five-year rehabilitation plan for Gaza under international supervision will be enacted.
“This agreement was established and negotiated by my administration, but its terms will be executed primarily by the future administration. “We have been speaking as a team for the past few days,” Biden stated.
The peace followed months of ceasefire and negotiation discussions spearheaded by Egypt and Qatar, with US support. Interestingly, the agreement was reached just days before US President-elect Donald Trump was sworn in for his second term.
According to a report from Hamas’ delegation approved the ceasefire agreement and hostage release.
According to a Palestinian official who spoke on the condition of anonymity, Hamas verbally approved the ceasefire agreement and hostage return parameters reached during negotiations in Qatar before formally approving them in writing.
Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar stated that he was returning to Israel from a mid-European travel so that he could participate in security cabinet and government votes on the cease-fire agreement with Hamas.
The Israeli assault of Gaza occurred when Hamas militants stormed into Israeli neighbourhoods on October 7, 2023, smashing security barriers and killing 12,000 troops and civilians. During the attack, the extremists also held approximately 250 individuals hostage.
According to the Gaza health ministry, nearly 46,000 people have been murdered since October 2023 as a result of Israel’s war in Gaza, while hundreds of others have been forced to live in tents and improvised rehabilitation camps.
US President-elect Donald Trump had asked that the Israel-Hamas truce be lifted as soon as possible, saying that there would be “hell to pay” if the hostages were not returned.
Steve Witkoff, Trump’s Middle East Ambassador, undertook long meetings and worked closely with outgoing President Joe Biden to finalise the agreement.
During the 15-month conflict, the entire Middle East was on the verge of war, with Iran-backed proxies such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen assaulting Israeli objectives in both countries. In contrast, Israel assassinated several key Hamas, Hezbollah, and Houthi commanders.
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