Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and U.S. President Joe Biden announced on the evening of January 15 that a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement has been finalized between Hamas and Israel.
The three-stage arrangement is set to come into effect on Sunday, January 19, though the exact timing remains unspecified. According to the Qatari leader, the agreement includes measures to monitor its implementation and address any potential violations.
During a White House address, President Biden stated, “Following extensive diplomatic efforts by the United States, in coordination with Egypt and Qatar, Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire and hostage exchange. This agreement will end the fighting in Gaza, deliver critical humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians, and reunite hostages with their families after more than 15 months of captivity.”
Earlier that Wednesday, Hamas accepted the terms proposed by mediators in Cairo and Doha. The group released a statement declaring, “This ceasefire agreement is the result of the extraordinary resilience of our courageous Palestinian people and our brave resistance in Gaza over the past 15 months. It marks a significant step toward halting aggression, advancing our national aspirations for liberation, and inspiring freedom-loving people worldwide.”
However, Israeli officials have yet to formally approve the deal. Sources from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office told local media, “The prime minister will address the public only once the agreement is finalized and confirmed.” A vote on the agreement by Israel’s security and full government cabinet is scheduled for midday tomorrow, followed by a 24-hour window for the Supreme Court to allow an appeal.
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich criticized the deal, calling it “dangerous and detrimental to Israel’s national security,” and stated, “Our continued participation in the government is contingent on a commitment to fully resume the war until complete victory is achieved.”
What’s the deal about?
In the agreement’s first phase, Israeli forces will withdraw from certain areas of Gaza, including the Rafah crossing in the south and portions of the Philadelphi Corridor near the Egyptian border. This withdrawal will coincide with an initial exchange of 34 Israeli captives for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners within the first week.
According to Al Mayadeen, the agreement also includes a gradual Israeli withdrawal from the Netzarim Corridor, where the military had established an “extermination zone.” Once the ceasefire begins, hundreds of trucks carrying humanitarian aid are expected to enter Gaza daily. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi emphasized the urgency of this aid in a social media statement, highlighting the need to address Gaza’s catastrophic humanitarian crisis without interference.
For the past 15 months, Israel has largely blocked the entry of essential supplies, such as food, water, and medicine, while its military operations have devastated Gaza’s healthcare system. By mid-January, the Palestinian Ministry of Health reported over 46,000 deaths in Gaza, though independent studies suggest an even higher toll due to factors such as Israel’s use of high-impact weaponry and systematic targeting of medical responders.
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