What we know about the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement

Smoke plumes rising from explosions above destroyed buildings in the northern Gaza Strip on January 14. Photo / Jack Guez, AFP

The first phase of the deal, including the start of hostage releases, will last six weeks.

Negotiators from Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip after more than 15 months of devastating war, officials said Wednesday (Thursday NZ time).

The Qatari Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, whose country helped mediate the talks, said the deal would achieve the release of hostages and prisoners, and a return to “sustainable calm”.

Under the deal, the ceasefire would begin Sunday, he said, adding that both sides were still working on resolving some of the logistical matters.

What’s in the agreement?

The ceasefire’s first phase, which would last six weeks, would see Israeli forces withdraw to the east of Gaza, away from populated areas. Hostages would start being released during that phase, said officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the deal.

President Joe Biden said that during the first phase of the agreement, Palestinians would be able to return to their neighbourhoods in all areas of Gaza, much of which has been levelled, and would have access to a surge of humanitarian supplies.

Who will be freed?

If implemented, the ceasefire would allow for the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners in Israel. About 100 hostages are thought to still be in Gaza, although Israeli authorities believe around 35 of those people are dead.

Hamas leaders want to free Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.

Al Thani said some 33 Israeli hostages would be released over the course of the 42-day agreement, but he did not say how many Palestinian prisoners would be released.

What happens next?

The agreement needs to be formally ratified by the Israeli Government, two senior Israeli officials said.

The office of Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, said in a statement that a number of details in the agreement remained unresolved but that it was hoped that they would be worked out Wednesday night.

The ratification votes in Israel are expected Thursday morning and are likely to test the Government’s unity, as at least two hard-line factions have already announced their opposition to striking a deal with Hamas.

Why did talks move forward?

The talks have also gained momentum since Israel reached a separate ceasefire agreement with Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, which began firing rockets into Israel immediately after the Hamas-led attack of October 2023. Battered badly by its escalating conflict with Israel, Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire with Israel in November, a deal that helped isolate Hamas.

Some officials have suggested that the change in US administrations, set to take place Monday, put pressure on Israel and Hamas to accelerate their decision-making after months of delay.

The incoming US President, Donald Trump, has warned that there will be “all hell to pay” unless the Israeli hostages are freed by the time he takes office. Steve Witkoff, his pick for Middle East envoy, has also made trips to Qatar and Israel.

On Wednesday, Trump wrote on social media: “WE HAVE A DEAL FOR THE HOSTAGES IN THE MIDDLE EAST. THEY WILL BE RELEASED SHORTLY. THANK YOU!”

At a news conference, Biden seemed to acknowledge that his administration has worked with the incoming Trump administration. Biden noted that although the deal was developed and negotiated under his administration, its terms would be implemented for the most part by the next administration. “In these past few days, we’ve been speaking as one team,” he said.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.

Written by: Adam Rasgon, Patrick Kingsley, Aaron Boxerman, Ronen Bergman, Peter Baker and Isabel Kershner

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