Hamas accepts draft agreement of Gaza ceasefire with Israel: Officials

The three phase agreement which is based on a blueprint laid down by the US President Joe Biden would first see 33 hostages being released in a six week period.

By: Express Web Desk

January 15, 2025 09:29 AM IST

3 min read

Palestinians inspect the site of an Israeli army strike early Tuesday morning in Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. (AP Photo)

Militant group Hamas has reportedly accepted a draft agreement of ceasefire in the Gaza Strip amid the ongoing hostilities with Israel since October 2023, two officials involved in the talks told Associated Press.

The United States and Qatar’s mediators said that Israel and the Palestine based Hamas are at the closest point in signing the agreement and ending the 15 month long conflict.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, during a speech on Tuesday said “I believe we will get a ceasefire. It’s right on the brink. It’s closer than it’s ever been before.”

The United States, Egypt and Qatar have been involved in finalising a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas since last year and secure the release of hostages captured during Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack on Israel which started the offensive. As per reports, around 100 hostages are still captive in Gaza.

Destroyed buildings by Israeli bombardments are seen inside the Gaza Strip from southern Israel, on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. (AP Photo)

The three phase agreement which is based on a blueprint laid down by the US President Joe Biden and supported by the United Nations Security Council would first see 33 hostages being released in a six week period.

A deal would bring a pause to the violence in Gaza where around 90% of the population of 2.3 million has been displaced, with many at the risk of famine. Israel’s offensive has killed over 46,000 people in Palestine, more than half of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

Also Read | What’s in the draft Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal?

Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel in 2023 had left over 1,200 dead and around 250 were taken hostage by the militant group. Around half of those hostages were freed during a brief pause in fighting in November 2023.

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As the ceasefire talks reached in its final stage, the Israeli offensive didn’t deter and Israel Defense Forces’ airstrikes on two homes in central Gaza on Tuesday killed at least 17 Palestinians.

Earlier, the health officials of Palestine said that at least 18 people, including two women and four children were killed in Israeli airstrikes.

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