Fifteen months of war and tens of thousands of deaths in Gaza. On Wednesday evening, thousands of Palestinians gathered to celebrate the conclusion of a truce agreement with Israel. Although there are still some issues to be resolved according to the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel and Hamas have agreed on a ceasefire.
After more than 15 months of war between Israel and Hamas, an agreement on a truce in Gaza was reached on Wednesday. The agreement will come into force on Sunday. “The ceasefire agreement is the product of the legendary tenacity of our Palestinian people and our valiant resistance in the Gaza Strip for more than 15 months,” Hamas said in a statement.
Benjamin Netanyahu thanked US President-elect Donald Trump and outgoing President Joe Biden by telephone for their help in obtaining this agreement which will “end the suffering of dozens of hostages and their families”. “The agreement must be respected. The hostages, released. The Gazans, rescued. A political solution must come,” pleaded Emmanuel Macron.
The first phase of this agreement begins on Sunday and is expected to last six weeks. It provides for a complete ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from all populated areas of Gaza. At the same time, 33 hostages held in Gaza will be released in exchange for around 1,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
Details of phases 2 and 3 to be finished
Finally, this first phase provides for an increase in humanitarian aid sent to the Gaza Strip. Six weeks during which the details of the following phases must also be finalized. Starting with the second which provides for an exchange of all the hostages still alive and the withdrawal of all Israeli troops from Gaza.
Finally in phase three, the bodies of the hostages who died during their captivity will be returned to their families. And according to American President Joe Biden, a major reconstruction plan for Gaza will then be launched.
Julien Coudrot with Guillaume Descours
Belgium
