Israel-Hamas Agreement: since when does the truce apply and what is the first phase of the ceasefire?

Qatar and the United States announced on Wednesday a truce agreement between Israel and Hamas in Gazawhich includes freeing hostages held by the Palestinian Islamist movement, after more than 15 months of a war that left tens of thousands of dead.

Following the announcement of the agreement, the Israeli Prime Minister’s office, Benjamin Netanyahustressed that there were still issues “to be resolved,” but that he hoped to close the pending issues “tonight.”

(Also read: Israel bombs food stand in Gaza and kills three people, prior to agreement with Hamas).

“Netanyahu will only issue an official statement when the final details of the deal, which are currently being worked on, are completed,” his office said.

The prime minister of Qatar, Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al Thani stated in a press conference that the agreement “for a ceasefire” in Gaza and an “exchange of hostages and prisoners” will come into force on Sunday.

The Qatari leader said he hoped the truce would become “permanent” and gave details about the first phase of the pact, which will last 42 days.

“Hamas to free 33 Israeli captives, including civilian women […]children, elderly people, sick civilians and wounded, in exchange for several Palestinian prisoners detained in Israeli jails,” he explained.

“Details on phases two and three will be finalized during the launch of the first phase,” he added.

Bombings continue

In Tel Aviv, protesters calling for the release of hostages hugged each other as soon as they heard the news. In the Strip, thousands of Palestinians celebrated the pact, which should put an end to the bombings that devastated almost the entire territory.

Just this Wednesday, Israeli airstrikes killed 18 people in Gaza City and two others in Khan Yunis, in the south, stated the Civil Defense of the Palestinian territory.

“I can’t believe this nightmare of more than a year is coming to an end. We have lost so many people, we have lost everything,” said Randa Sameeh, a 45-year-old woman in the Nuseirat refugee camp, central of the enclave.

Hamas, which rules the besieged enclave, said the deal was the fruit of the “tenacity” of the Palestinian people and the “brave resistance” of the Islamist movement.

“We will not forget and we will not forgive” the suffering of the population during the war, stressed the chief negotiator of the Palestinian group, Khalil al Hayya.

(Also read: Israel says there are issues “to be resolved” on Gaza truce with Hamas.)

Almost all of the 2.4 million inhabitants were displaced by the conflict and the Israeli siege caused a serious humanitarian crisis in the Strip.

In the last days, Egypt, USA and Qatar, the three mediating countries, intensified efforts to end the fighting. The announcement comes less than a week before Donald Trump’s inauguration as president of the United States.

Trump celebrates “epic” deal

The current American president, Joe Bidensaid he was “excited” and that the deal “will stop the fighting in Gaza, provide much-needed humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians and reunite hostages with their families.”

The war broke out on October 7, 2023, after the Hamas attack in southern Israel that resulted in the deaths of 1,210 people, mostly civilians, and the kidnapping of another 251, according to an AFP count based on official data.

Of those kidnapped, 97 remain captive in Gazabut the Israeli army estimates that 34 of them died.

After the assault, Israel launched an air and ground offensive against Gaza that killed at least 46,707 people, mostly civilians, according to data from the Gaza Ministry of Health that the UN considers reliable.

Since the war began, only one truce had been achieved, lasting one week, at the end of November 2023.

Trump He warned in recent days that the region would be plunged into “hell” if the hostages were not freed before he came to power.

“This EPIC ceasefire agreement could only have happened as a result of our historic victory in November,” the Republican wrote on his Truth Social network.

Envoys from both his incoming and outgoing Biden administrations were present at the latest negotiations.

“We will continue to work closely with Israel and our allies to ensure that Gaza NEVER becomes a terrorist sanctuary,” added the president-elect.

humanitarian aid

Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi welcomed the agreement and stressed the “importance of accelerating the entry of emergency humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.”

Shortly after the announcement, negotiations began to reopen the crossing. Rafahon the Gaza border with Egypt, reported the Egyptian media Al-Qahera News, close to the intelligence services, citing a security source.

The border post, through which some humanitarian aid passes, has been closed since May, when the Israeli army took over the area and closed the Palestinian side of it.

“It is imperative that this ceasefire removes the significant political and security obstacles that hinder the delivery of aid in Gaza,” declared the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres.

Both the permanence of the ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli troops and the amount of humanitarian aid for Gaza hindered the negotiations.

Saudi Arabia, a regional power, demanded the “complete” withdrawal of Israeli troops and Iraq demanded to deliver “immediate” aid to the population of the Strip.

Brazil, very critical of Israel during this conflict, asked both parties to “guarantee the permanent cessation of hostilities.”

Israel, which vowed to destroy Hamas after the Oct. 7 attack, rejects a full withdrawal from the territory and opposes it being administered by Hamas or the Palestinian Authority.

The Palestinians, for their part, affirm that the future of Gaza belongs to them and that they will not tolerate any foreign interference.

The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinkenproposed on Tuesday to send an international security force to Gaza and place the territory under UN responsibility.