Israel and Hamas have reached a ceasefire agreement after 15 months of devastating war that has left Gaza – home to 2.3 million Palestinians – in ruins.
The deal, which is expected to be implemented in three phases starting on Sunday, was approved by the Hamas group on Wednesday.
The agreement spread over three months will see a surge in humanitarian aid, gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces, and the release of Israeli captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
The deal, mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the United States, also talks about post-war reconstruction efforts in the Palestinian enclave, where more than 60 percent of buildings have been destroyed and damaged in the nonstop Israeli bombardment since October 7, 2023.
Phase One
The end of phase will see 33 Israeli captives released in exchange for 100 Palestinian prisoners. This includes the release of the remaining captives which are believed to number 65. In exchange, Israel is committed to withdraw from Gaza and respect a permanent ceasefire. Up to 94 Israeli captives, dead or alive, will be freed in exchange for more than 1,000 Palestinians. It’s believed nearly 30 captives out of 94 are dead.
Phase One
Israel should have completed the full withdrawal of its forces from the Philadelphi Corridor, which separates Gaza from Egypt.
Phase Three
This is when the third phase should start. Details are still unclear. Should the conditions of the second stage be met, this is when bodies of the remaining captives should be handed over in return for a three- to five-year reconstruction plan to be carried out under international supervision.
There is currently no agreement over who will administer Gaza beyond the ceasefire. The US has pressed for a reformed version of the Palestinian Authority to do so.
Credit: aljazeera.com
