Israel Hamas War: Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire, ending the 15-month conflict, with hostages exchanged and Gaza reconstruction planned.
New Delhi, Digital Desk || Israel Hamas War: Israel and Hamas have reached a ceasefire agreement aimed at ending the 15-month-long war in Gaza, which has resulted in over 46,000 deaths, according to US President. The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants launched rocket attacks on Israel, leading to tens of thousands of Palestinian casualties and keeping the Middle East on edge ever since.
“Today, after many months of intensive diplomacy by USA, alongside Egypt and Qatar, Israel and Hamas have reached a ceasefire and hostage deal,” US President Joe Biden said in a statement. “This deal will stop the fighting in Gaza, deliver much-needed humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians, and reunite hostages with their families after more than 15 months in captivity.”
Ceasefire deal includes a 6 week preliminary phase, during which Israeli troops will begin withdrawing from Gaza, and both sides will exchange hostages. Biden explained that the deal is structured in three phases. First phase will focus on securing the release of hostages with US assistance. Israel has also agreed to allow injured Palestinians to leave Gaza for medical treatment and to open Rafah crossing with Egypt seven days after the first phase begins.
The 2nd and 3rd phases will be negotiated during the first phase. In the second phase, if conditions are met, Hamas will release all remaining captives, primarily male soldiers, in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners. Israel will also begin a full withdrawal from Gaza. The third phase will involve Hamas returning the bodies of the remaining captives, and a 3 to 5 year reconstruction plan for Gaza, managed under international supervision, will be implemented.
“This deal was developed and negotiated by my administration, but its terms will be mostly carried out by the next administration. We have worked as one team over the past few days,” Joe Biden said.
The ceasefire deal follows months of negotiations led by Egypt and Qatar, with USA support. Remarkably, the agreement was finalized just days ahead of US President-elect Donald Trump’s second inauguration. Quoting Hamas, Reuters reported that the Palestinian militant group had given verbal approval to the ceasefire and hostage release terms during negotiations in Qatar before formally providing written approval.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said he was returning to Israel from a European visit to attend government and security cabinet votes on the ceasefire deal.
The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants attacked Israeli communities, breaching security barriers and killing about 12,000 soldiers and civilians. During the assault, they also took approximately 250 people hostage. Since then, Gaza’s health ministry reports that over 46,000 people have been killed, and hundreds of thousands have been displaced, living in tents and makeshift camps.
New elect US President Donald Trump had urged a swift conclusion to the truce, warning that there would be severe consequences if hostages were not returned. Trump’s Middle East Ambassador, Steve Witkoff, played a key role in the negotiations, working closely with Biden’s administration to finalize the deal.
Throughout the 15-month war, tensions in the Middle East escalated, with Iran-backed groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen attacking Israel’s interests. In response, Israel eliminated several key commanders from Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.
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