After 15 months of war ravaging Gaza, a ceasefire has been agreed upon, with mediation by Qatar, Egypt and the United States. The ceasefire, to be executed in three phases, is set to begin on Sunday. Talks between the parties, Israel and Hamas are still continuing to work out the final details as per a statement released by Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.

The war, which began on October 7, 2023, after Hamas launched an attack on Israel, escalated into a bloody conflict with at least 46,707 people killed in Gaza. The actual death toll is believed to be much higher, with an estimated 18,000 of the victims being children.

After several failed attempts at a ceasefire, there is hope that this agreement will bring lasting peace to the region and permanently end the war.

BY Outlook Web Desk

In the first phase, lasting six weeks, hostages and prisoners will be exchanged. Thirty-three Israeli captives, including women, children, and older civilians, taken during the October 7, attack, will be released. 

In return, Israel will free a larger number of Palestinian prisoners, including women, children under 19, those detained after the October 7 attacks. The exact number of Palestinian prisoners to be released depends on the hostages freed during this phase.

As part of the deal, the Israeli military will pull back from populated areas in Gaza to the strip's edges, allowing for critical humanitarian aid to enter. This includes food, medical supplies, and essentials for the war-torn population. 

The second phase of the ceasefire agreement, set to be negotiated by the 16th day of phase one, focuses on securing a permanent end to the war. It includes the release of all remaining hostages in Gaza, including Israeli male soldiers, in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners. A key part of this phase is for the war to stop permanently and for Israeli forces to fully withdraw.

However, both sides have conditions. Israel has stated that a full troop withdrawal will only occur once all hostages are returned and Hamas's military capabilities are dismantled. Meanwhile, Hamas has insisted it will not release the last hostages until Israel completely withdraws its troops.

The third and final phase focuses on rebuilding Gaza and ensuring the return of the bodies of any remaining hostages. The reconstruction effort will be overseen by Egypt, Qatar, and the United Nations. 

There is no clarity or agreement on who will govern Gaza after the ceasefire. While Israel has opposed any role for Hamas in the leadership, the Palestinian Authority lacks credibility among Gaza's residents, leaving the future leadership of the region uncertain.

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BY Outlook Web Desk

This is not the first attempt at a ceasefire. The only successful ceasefire occurred in November 2023, lasting about a week. During that time, 105 hostages held by Hamas—mainly women, children, and the elderly—were released, while Israel freed around 240 Palestinian prisoners. This brief pause gave a glimpse of hope but did not lead to a lasting peace.

Since then, numerous efforts have been made, including attempts by the Biden administration and the United Nations, but all have failed. Resolutions proposed by the UN were often vetoed or blocked, while other negotiations, such as the 21-day pause suggested by France and the US in September 2024, were rejected by both Israel and Hezbollah. 

This latest agreement feels different due to shifts in political dynamicsfalcon play, particularly with Donald Trump’s involvement after his election as US president. Both Trump and outgoing President Joe Biden have a vested interest in claiming a foreign policy victory, pressuring Israel and Hamas to come to an agreement.