What was decided in the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, why the attack in Gaza now
#News Bureau January 16,2025
Palestinians in Gaza celebrate after a ceasefire deal was confirmed between Hamas and Israel after 15 months of war. The ceasefire is due to take effect on Sunday, January 19. But Israeli forces have continued their attacks on the Gaza Strip since the deal was announced, killing at least 30 Palestinians.
Hamas official Izzat al-Rishek says the deal reached in the Qatari capital Doha meets all the Palestinian group’s conditions, including the full withdrawal of Israeli forces, the return of displaced people to their homes and a permanent end to the war.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has thanked the US. He said he thanked US President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump for “helping push through” the deal to end the “suffering of dozens of hostages and their families”.
“The Israel-Hamas war began on October 7, 2023. Israel attacked Gaza, killing at least 46,707 Palestinian civilians and wounding 110,265 over 15 months. Earlier that day, Hamas had launched an offensive against the Israeli occupation of Palestine. At least 1,139 people were killed in Israel during the attacks and Hamas took more than 200 captive.
US President Biden and the Qatari Prime Minister separately announced the deal on Wednesday. The deal came after a week of intense negotiations brokered by Qatar, the US and Egypt.
Biden said in a written statement, “Today (Wednesday), after months of intense US diplomacy, with Egypt and Qatar, Israel and Hamas have reached a ceasefire agreement. The agreement will halt the fighting in Gaza, provide much-needed humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians and reunite hostages with their families after more than 15 months in captivity.” Speaking from the White House on Wednesday afternoon, Biden said, “There was no other way to end this war than through a hostage agreement, and I am very satisfied that this day has finally come for the people of Israel.” He said the hostages released in the first phase of the agreement will also include Americans. Vice President Kamala Harris and I can’t wait to welcome them home (US).”
The Israel-Hamas deal has three phases, which will last for approximately 42 days.
During the first phase, Hamas will release 33 women and children as well as hostages over the age of 50. The same phase will also include the withdrawal of all Israeli forces from populated areas of Gaza. The first phase will also see the release of American hostages, who were captured by Hamas from inside Israel.
For every female or child hostage returned to Israel, Israel must release 30 Palestinian women and children from its prisons.
Hamas will release all hostages over the age of 50, and Israel will release 30 Palestinian prisoners aged 50 or older.
The second phase of the agreement will include the release of all remaining male Israeli hostages and the withdrawal of all IDF forces from Gaza.
The third phase involves the exchange of the bodies of dead hostages and prisoners and the beginning of the reconstruction of Gaza.
There will be a complete ceasefire in Gaza to allow aid to enter while hostage and prisoner exchanges take place. International aid groups and the United Nations will resume their operations in Gaza, and begin rebuilding infrastructure, such as water, electricity and sewage systems.
As news of the deal broke, crowds gathered in Gaza’s Deir al-Balah and celebratory gunfire was heard. “I am extremely happy. In the past 15 months, I have witnessed tears, laughter, loss of martyrs and people going to jail. But finally now I feel happy,” said a young Palestinian woman in Khan Younis, Gaza city. “I am very happy and today is the day I wanted to hear about since the beginning of the war,” said an elderly man. “Allah is not letting us down,” he said.
The deal was the subject of intense negotiations in Doha for the past few weeks. President Biden’s top Middle East adviser Brett McGurk was in the region for most of a month. McGurk is still coordinating with Steve Witkoff, the special Middle East envoy chosen by newly elected President Donald Trump.
Biden spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by phone about the developments on Sunday and again on Wednesday. A senior US official said Biden told Netanyahu that Israel must now withdraw from Gaza so that the hostages can be brought back.
Hamas still holds about 100 hostages. The Israel Defense Forces have said they believe about a third of the hostages are dead. Some were killed in Israeli attacks on the place where they were held. The Israeli army did not even know the hostages were there. The families of the hostages have long been holding regular rallies in Israel demanding a negotiated settlement for the release of their loved ones. Many demonstrations also took place outside Prime Minister Netanyahu’s residence.
President-elect Trump is taking credit for the Israel-Hamas deal, although Biden said the deal would largely be implemented only after his successor, Trump, takes office. “This ceasefire agreement is the result of our historic victory in November. That victory signaled to the entire world that my administration would seek peace and negotiate agreements to ensure the safety of all Americans and our allies. I am thrilled that American and Israeli hostages will return home to their families and loved ones,” Trump wrote on X. Trump is still five days into his presidency. He wrote, “We have accomplished so much without even being in the White House. Just imagine all the amazing things that will happen when I return to the White House, and my administration will be completely confident they can ensure even more victories for the USA!” When asked, White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby said: “I hope we all move beyond the question of who gets the credit. I don’t think the hostages, their families, ordinary Palestinians in Gaza care who gets the credit. The truth is, there’s happiness on both sides. It couldn’t be better than that.”
