- A ceasefire between Hamas and Israel will start on Sunday at 8:30 a.m.
- The deal includes the release of 33 hostages and 1,900 Palestinian prisoners.
- The first phase of the ceasefire will last six weeks.
- The exchange of prisoners will occur starting Sunday at 4 p.m. local time.
- Israel and Hamas have both agreed to the deal after 15 months of intense fighting.
A ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas will take effect on Sunday, potentially marking a turning point in the conflict. Qatar’s foreign ministry announced the deal, confirming it will start at 8:30 a.m. (0630 GMT). The agreement includes halting hostilities and releasing hostages, offering hope for peace.
Qatar’s Foreign Minister Majid al-Ansari confirmed the news in a post on X, urging citizens to stay cautious and follow instructions when the ceasefire begins. However, tensions remain high as sirens sounded in central Israel on Saturday due to intensified missile attacks from Yemen by Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
Israel Cabinet Approves Ceasefire
On the Israeli side, a Cabinet decision approved the ceasefire, signaling a shift in the conflict’s dynamics. This move followed a period of intense warfare that saw over 46,000 Palestinians killed, according to local health officials, and more than 1,200 Israelis killed in Hamas’ October 7 attack.
The ceasefire deal includes a significant prisoner exchange. Under the first phase, 33 Israeli hostages will be released in exchange for 1,900 Palestinian prisoners. The hostages, both alive and dead, will be exchanged for Palestinian detainees, some of whom were involved in deadly attacks. As part of the deal, all Palestinian women and children under 19 held by Israel will be freed during this phase.
Details of the Prisoner Exchange
The prisoner exchange will begin on Sunday at 4 p.m. local time. The Israeli government has shared a list of over 700 Palestinians set to be freed in the first phase. This list includes only individuals younger than 19 or women. Israeli troops will also pull back into a buffer zone inside Gaza.
This pullback will allow displaced Palestinians to return to their homes, including those in Gaza City and northern Gaza. The first phase of the ceasefire will last six weeks, during which hostages and prisoners will be released. Hamas has agreed to release female hostages on the first day of the deal.
Further releases will occur on Days 7 and 28, while the remaining captives, including male soldiers, will be freed in the second phase. However, Hamas has made it clear that a lasting ceasefire and complete Israeli withdrawal must happen before releasing all hostages.
Humanitarian Aid and Rebuilding Gaza
One key part of the ceasefire deal is bringing humanitarian aid back to Gaza. Trucks loaded with essential supplies are waiting at the Rafah border crossing on the Egyptian side. To ensure smooth deliveries and assist in evacuating wounded patients, two Egyptian ministers have arrived in the northern Sinai Peninsula.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has become severe, with thousands of displaced Palestinians living in overcrowded tent camps. Many want to return home, but widespread destruction of Gaza’s infrastructure makes it difficult. Numerous homes were destroyed or badly damaged during Israel’s military operations, leaving many families with no place to go.
Despite the challenges, the ceasefire brings a small ray of hope for relief. Both sides have not yet disclosed the full list of hostages in the exchange, but this prisoner and hostage release is seen as a step toward breaking the cycle of violence and working toward lasting peace.