
Hamas and Israel have reached a ceasefire deal to end 15 months of fighting in Gaza, reported Reuters citing an official briefed on the negotiations.
On Wednesday, negotiators reached a three-phased deal to end the conflict that claimed the lives of more than 46,000 Palestinians and brought the entire Middle East to the brink of a regional war. The agreement has yet to be formally announced.
Ceasefire Deal Details
In the first phase of the ceasefire deal, which lasts for 6 weeks, Israel will gradually withdraw its troops from Gaza, and Hamas will release 33 Israeli hostages, including all women, children and men over 50, in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
The official added that negotiations on the second phase of the deal will start on the 16th day of the implementation of phase one. He said it will involve the release of all the remaining hostages, a permanent ceasefire and the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile, the third phase will likely include returning the remaining dead bodies and starting Gaza’s reconstruction process under the supervision of Egypt, Qatar and the UN.
Extensive Diplomatic Efforts
The ceasefire deal comes after months of intensive talks facilitated by mediators from Egypt, Qatar and the US. It also comes days before the inauguration of the US President-elect, Donald Trump.
Following the news of the ceasefire agreement, Trump celebrated on his Truth Social platform. “We have a deal for the hostages in the Middle East. They will be released shortly. Thank you!” he posted.
Approving the Deal
Although there is no official announcement yet, NBC News reported that senior Hamas official, Basem Naim, confirmed the group had agreed to the agreement.
On the other hand, the office of the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that they are still sorting out the final details of the deal, according to the Associated Press (AP). The Israeli Cabinet will convene on Thursday morning to approve the deal.
Responding to the news of the ceasefire deal, Palestinians and Israelis reacted to the announcement of the agreement. In Gaza, people have taken to the streets to celebrate the deal. In Israel, families and friends of hostages reacted to the news as they took part in a demonstration in Tel Aviv.