Israel-Hamas Ceasefire: US, Qatar Confirm Gaza Ceasefire; Truce Begins Sunday

꧅IN a major breakthrough, Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire in Gaza. This ceasefire will begin from Sunday - January 19, 2025 onwards and will last for six weeks.

๊During these six weeks, Israeli hostages will be swapped with Palestinian prisoners and urgent humanitarian aid will be sent into the Gaza Strip.

🌊The ceasefire was confirmed by the United States and Qatar, which are serving as the mediator countries between Israel and Hamas.

♒A Hamas official has told the BBC that the group has approved the ceasefire agreement in presence of the Qatari and Egyptian mediators.

♕BBC also quoted their source saying, "Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal reached following Qatari PM’s meeting with Hamas negotiators and separately Israeli negotiators in his office."

🦹One official told Associated Press that it was expected that the ceasefire would be implemented in coming days.

ꩲPresident Joe Biden was preparing to address the breakthrough agreement later Thursday, officials reportedly said.

US President-elect Donald Trump 🧸announcing the deal closure on his Truth Social social media platform. “WE HAVE A DEAL FOR THE HOSTAGES IN THE MIDDLE EAST. THEY WILL BE RELEASED SHORTLY. THANK YOU!”

ꦐAccording to reports in both BBC and AP, the Palestinians were seen celebrating the deal on the streets.

𒅌In the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, large crowds of cheering people have taken to the streets, reported AP.

♒According to BBC phase one is an initial six-week ceasefire. During that period Hamas will release 33 of the hostages that it seized in the 7 October attack. It’s not clear how many of those 33 are still alive.

🏅In return for each hostage set free, Israel will release dozens of Palestinian prisoners. More aid and fuel will immediately be allowed in – and there will be a managed return of Gaza’s two million displaced to their homes. Or, quite possibly, the rubble that was once their homes.

ܫIn an official press release, Hamas government has asked citizens not to move before the ceasefire is official. “The Government Media Office calls on the honorable citizens not to move before the official start of the ceasefire, and to obtain information about the timing of the ceasefire from official sources,” the press release said.

ඣIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office says a ceasefire deal in Gaza has not been finalised but suggests that the final details could be resolved in the coming hours.

ཧ“Several clauses in the framework remain unresolved, and we hope that the details will be finalised tonight,” the Israeli prime minister’s office said in a statement.

🐲 Officials from the US, Qatar, Egypt and Israel are expected to meet in Cairo on Thursday to discuss operations for the surge.

♊CNN quoted a sources saying humanitarian aid has been stocked in Jordan and El-Arish, Egypt to be used in the “humanitarian surge” under the ceasefire and hostage deal.

ꦇThe ceasefire in Gaza will take place starting Sunday, January 19, Qatar’s prime minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani , has said in his press conference.

ܫHe added that talks were continuing with Israel and Hamas on the implementation of the deal.

🐎We expect both parties to stay committed to the agreement. We understand the agreement like this is complex but we hope for peace, he said in the press briefing.

♊Phase one will begin on Jan 19 - Sunday with the exchange of israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners. Women, children, elderly and the wounded will be released first.

ℱThe first phase will last for 42 days and towards the end of this phase, the details of the second phase of ceasefire will be finalised and shared

🎃“It is the result not only of the extreme pressure that Hamas has been under and the changed regional equation after a ceasefire in Lebanon and weakening of Iran — but also of dogged and painstaking American diplomacy,” Biden said in a statement. He said that he put forward “the precise contours” of the plan in May of last year.

ও“My diplomacy never ceased in their efforts to get this done.”

US will be part of the hostage release in phase 1 says US President Joe Biden ꧙said. He calls the deal the `toughest negotiations he has ever seen''.

ꦜHundreds of Palestinian prisoners will be released. During phase 1, the people of Gaza will be able to enter the city.

ﷺPhase two will work towards a permanent end of the war. Release of more hostages, ceasefire becomes permanent and Israeli troops will begin withdraw

🎶He said remains of dead hostages to be returned and reconstruction of Gaza to begin in Phase three.

💃``Palestinian people have gone through hell, so many innocents have been killed. With this, Gaza can rebuild itself and see a day without Hamas in power'', Biden said

🍬According to Aljazeera, The Israeli military says the preparations are taking place in an operation dubbed “Wings of Freedom”.

𒅌UN Secretary-General António Guterres says, "I welcome the announcement of a deal to secure a ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza. I commend the mediators — Egypt, Qatar, and the United States of America — for their dedicated efforts in brokering this deal. Their unwavering commitment to finding a diplomatic solution has been critical in achieving this breakthrough. I call on all relevant parties to uphold their commitments and ensure that this deal is fully implemented..."