Israel and Hamas reach agreement on ceasefire and hostage release
Israel and Hamas reach agreement on ceasefire and hostage release. This was reported by CNN as well as by other US and Israeli media outlets.
Key points of the agreement, as shared by President elect of the USA Donald Trump are:
▪️A ceasefire will take effect in Gaza, allowing civilians to return to the north, with partial withdrawal of Israeli forces.
▪️600 humanitarian aid trucks will be delivered daily, including 50 with fuel and 300 designated for northern Gaza.
▪️Hamas will release 33 Israeli hostages, including women, children, and men over 50.
▪️Israel will release 30 Palestinians for each hostage and 50 for each female soldier, along with all Palestinian women and children under 19 detained since October 7.
▪️The total number of released Palestinians could range from 990 to 1,650.
The Gaza ceasefire will take effect on Jan. 19, Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said in a press conference in Doha on Wednesday.
Officials from mediators Qatar, Egypt and the US as well as Israel and Hamas said on Tuesday an agreement was closer than ever for a truce in the besieged enclave, the release of hostages held there, and the freeing of Palestinian prisoners detained in Israel.
If successful, the ceasefire and hostage agreement could ease tensions across the wider Middle East, where the war has fueled conflict in the occupied West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Iraq, and raised fears of all-out war between Israel and Iran.
