Gaza war end on horizon as Israel-Hamas reach ceasefire deal to take effect on 19 January

The agreement follows months of intermittent negotiations mediated by Egypt and Qatar, with support from the United States, and bring end to war that has disrupted the Middle East.

The deal also outlines the return of displaced Palestinians to their homes in Gaza, the facilitation of medical travel for those injured or sick due to the conflict, and the repositioning of Israeli forces along the Gaza border.

US President Joe Biden confirmed that American hostages would be among those released. “This deal will halt the fighting in Gaza, deliver urgently needed humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians, and reunite hostages with their families after more than 15 months in captivity,” Biden stated.

The deal includes a six-week initial ceasefire phase, a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces, the release of hostages held by Hamas, and the release of Palestinian detainees held by Israel.

In a social media post, US president-elect, Donald Trump said, “We have a deal for the hostages in the Middle East … They will be released shortly.”

Israel’s security cabinet is also scheduled to meet at 11am local time (0900 GMT) on Thursday to approve the ceasefire and hostage release deal, according to the Times of Israel, citing Hebrew media.

Relatives and friends of people killed and abducted by Hamas and taken into Gaza, react to the ceasefire announcement as they take part in a demonstration in Tel Aviv, Israel, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

What the deal says ?

The deal, finalised in Doha by US, Israeli, Egyptian, and Qatari negotiators, is reported to involve a phased ceasefire, largely following a truce agreement first set out in May last year. The first stage, lasting 42 days, sees Hamas agreeing to release 33 hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

During this phase, all fighting would pause, and Israeli forces would withdraw from Gaza’s cities to a buffer zone at the edge of the strip. The specifics of this zone are set out in signed maps from both sides. About 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million people have been displaced, but would be allowed to move freely between the south and north of the territory, which Israel has divided with a military corridor. An increased flow of aid into Gaza is expected, though the details of this remain unclear.

The second phase would be more comprehensive, with the return of the remaining hostages and the release of an equivalent number of Palestinian prisoners, alongside a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has been reluctant to agree to this step until now, and specifics of this phase are subject to further negotiations, which are set to start after 16 days.

Supporters of Israeli hostages, who were kidnapped during the deadly October 7 2023 attack by Hamas, hug each other, as they attend a protest to demand a deal to bring every hostage home at once, amid Gaza ceasefire negotiations, in Tel Aviv, Israel, January 15, 2025. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun

The third phase would involve the exchange of the bodies of deceased hostages and Hamas members, and a reconstruction plan for Gaza. However, plans for the future governance of the strip remain unclear.

Last-minute snag

According to reports by Associated Press, Qatari and Hamas officials have stated that a last-minute dispute in the ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas has been resolved. Israel announced late on Wednesday that Hamas had attempted to alter the agreed-upon security arrangements along Gaza’s border with Egypt, a proposal Israel strongly rejected.

The official said Hamas had raised objections to agreed-upon arrangements for the Philadelphi corridor – a strategic strip of land along Gaza’s border with Egypt, Associated Press reported.

Qatar’s prime minister, who has been mediating the talks, held separate meetings with both Hamas and Israeli delegations. According to reports, the issue was resolved shortly after these meetings.

Israeli forces launched an invasion of Gaza after Hamas-led gunmen breached security barriers and entered Israeli communities on 7 October 2023, killing 1,200 soldiers and civilians and abducting over 250 Israeli and foreign hostages.

Israel’s campaign in Gaza has resulted in over 46,000 deaths, according to figures from Gaza’s health ministry, and has reduced the narrow coastal strip to rubble. Hundreds of thousands of people are enduring the winter cold in tents and makeshift shelters.

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