Qatar’s prime minister announced Wednesday a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, which could end the devastating 15-month war in the Gaza Strip and allow dozens of hostages to return home.
There was still no confirmation from Israel on Wednesday.
The agreement, which comes after weeks of laborious negotiations in the Qatari capital, provides for the gradual release of dozens of hostages held by Hamas and the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israel. It would also allow hundreds of thousands of displaced people in the Gaza Strip to return to what remains of their homes.
The agreement would also allow essential humanitarian aid to be delivered to a territory ravaged by 15 months of war.
Three U.S. officials and another from Hamas confirmed earlier Wednesday that a deal had been reached, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said final details were still being finalized.
The three American officials and the Hamas official requested anonymity to discuss the contours of the agreement before the official announcement by the mediators in Doha.
Mr Netanyahu’s office said in a statement that it hoped “the details will be finalized this evening” (Wednesday). Any agreement must be approved by Netanyahu’s cabinet.
Once official, the agreement is expected to result in an initial six-week cessation of fighting, which would be accompanied by the opening of negotiations on ending the war.
In six weeks, 33 of the nearly 100 hostages must be reunited with their loved ones after months of captivity without contact with the outside world, although it is not certain that they are all alive.
It is unclear when and how many displaced Palestinians will be able to return to what remains of their homes and whether the agreement will lead to a complete end to the war and the total withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip – key demands of the Hamas for the release of the remaining captives.
Many long-term questions about the postwar Gaza Strip remain, including who will rule the territory or oversee the arduous task of rebuilding after a brutal conflict that destabilized the Middle East and sparked protests around the world.
Hamas started the war with its attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 Israelis and taking 250 hostage. Israel responded with a ferocious offensive that killed more than 46,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, displaced about 90% of the Gaza Strip’s population and sparked a humanitarian crisis.
More than 100 hostages were released from the Gaza Strip during a week-long truce in November 2023.
The United States, along with Egypt and Qatar, contributed to months of indirect talks between the archenemies that ultimately led to this latest deal. It comes after Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire in November, following more than a year of war-related conflict in the Gaza Strip.
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