By Nakiwala Barbra
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has announced that a deal to release hostages held by Hamas has been finalized.
After weeks of negotiations involving Israel, Hamas, the United States, and Qatar, representatives officially signed the agreement in Doha.
The security cabinet is expected to ratify the deal later today before seeking full government approval. Families of the hostages have been informed, with the first stage of the ceasefire set to begin on Sunday, pending approval.
The agreement’s first phase will involve the exchange of 33 Israeli hostages, including women, children, and elderly people, for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. Israeli forces will also withdraw from densely populated areas in Gaza, allowing displaced Palestinians to begin returning to their homes. Additionally, hundreds of aid trucks will be allowed into Gaza each day to alleviate the humanitarian crisis.
The deal comes after months of war triggered by Hamas’ cross-border attack on Israel in October 2023, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the abduction of 251 hostages. Since then, Gaza has faced devastating airstrikes that have killed over 46,000 people, according to its Hamas-run health ministry, and displaced most of its population of 2.3 million. Aid agencies continue to struggle to meet the needs of the territory’s residents.
While some celebrate the impending ceasefire, tensions remain high. Two hardline Israeli ministers, Netanyahu Confirms Hostage Deal as Ceasefire Nears completion.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has announced that a deal to release hostages held by Hamas has been finalized. After weeks of negotiations involving Israel, Hamas, the United States, and Qatar, representatives officially signed the agreement in Doha. The security cabinet is expected to ratify the deal later today before seeking full government approval. Families of the hostages have been informed, with the first stage of the ceasefire set to begin on Sunday, pending approval.
The agreement’s first phase will involve the exchange of 33 Israeli hostages, including women, children, and elderly people, for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. Israeli forces will also withdraw from densely populated areas in Gaza, allowing displaced Palestinians to begin returning to their homes. Additionally, hundreds of aid trucks will be allowed into Gaza each day to alleviate the humanitarian crisis.
The deal comes after months of war triggered by Hamas’ cross-border attack on Israel in October 2023, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the abduction of 251 hostages. Since then, Gaza has faced devastating airstrikes that have killed over 46,000 people, according to its Hamas-run health ministry, and displaced most of its population of 2.3 million. Aid agencies continue to struggle to meet the needs of the territory’s residents.
While some celebrate the impending ceasefire, tensions remain high. Two hardline Israeli ministers, Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, have threatened to resign in protest of the deal but have refrained from collapsing the government, provided the war resumes after the six-week ceasefire. Negotiations for subsequent phases, which include the release of remaining hostages and the reconstruction of Gaza, are expected to start once the initial terms are implemented. Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, have threatened to resign in protest of the deal but have refrained from collapsing the government, provided the war resumes after the six-week ceasefire. Negotiations for subsequent phases, which include the release of remaining hostages and the reconstruction of Gaza, are expected to start once the initial terms are implemented.
