Department of Research, Studies and International News 16-01-2025

A significant breakthrough has emerged in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, with both parties reaching a detailed, multi-stage agreement to end the prolonged hostilities in Gaza. This pivotal development was independently announced on Wednesday by President Joe Biden and Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Qatar’s Prime Minister.

President Biden underscored the significance of the agreement, describing it as a critical step toward halting the ongoing violence, providing urgent humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians, and reuniting families with hostages who have been held captive for over 15 months. He highlighted that the deal closely aligns with a proposal he had presented in May 2024, which gained the endorsement of the United Nations Security Council.

Although official confirmation from Israel and Hamas was initially absent, sources involved in the negotiations informed NPR that a tentative ceasefire agreement had indeed been reached, marking an effort to conclude the most intense and prolonged period of fighting between the two sides in recent history. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office acknowledged that while certain details remained unresolved, they hoped the agreement would be finalized imminently.

The accord is the culmination of rigorous indirect negotiations conducted in Doha, Qatar, facilitated by representatives from the United States, Egypt, and Qatar. Uniquely, this process also included participation from emissaries representing both the current Biden administration and the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump, who collectively urged both sides to reach a resolution.

According to Qatar’s Prime Minister, the ceasefire is slated to commence on Sunday, pending ratification by Israel’s cabinet. President Isaac Herzog appealed to Israeli ministers to approve the deal, emphasizing that the hard-fought agreement represented a rare opportunity to bring an end to the bloodshed. Herzog stated, “Through immense security, diplomatic, and societal efforts, we have reached a critical juncture. It is imperative that we seize this chance.”

The announcement prompted Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar to cut short his European visit to attend a government meeting on the ceasefire scheduled for Thursday. Miki Zohar, Israel’s Minister of Culture and Sports, urged cabinet members to endorse the agreement, framing it as a moral obligation.

Hamas and Other Factions Signal Cooperation

Hamas indicated its commitment to the process through a public statement about a high-level meeting between Mohammed Darwish, a senior leader of Hamas, and Ziad al-Nakhalah, leader of the Islamic Jihad group, another Gaza-based militant organization. The discussion centered on maximizing efforts to ensure the negotiations’ success.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the agreement, urging all parties to facilitate unhindered humanitarian aid for the affected civilian population. “The human toll of this conflict has been catastrophic, and alleviating the suffering must remain our utmost priority,” he stated.

The agreement, designed to be implemented in three phases, is ambitious but faces significant challenges due to ongoing violence. On Wednesday alone, over 50 Palestinians were reportedly killed in Israeli attacks, emphasizing the urgency of the ceasefire’s swift implementation.

Phase One:

The initial six-week phase will feature a complete cessation of hostilities and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from densely populated areas in Gaza. It also includes the release of several hostages, including women, the elderly, and wounded individuals, some of whom are American. Concurrently, Israel will release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, and a large-scale delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza will commence.

Phase Two:

Negotiations will focus on establishing a permanent cessation of war. During this stage, male soldiers held hostage by Hamas will be freed, and any remaining Israeli troops will withdraw from Gaza.

Phase Three:

The final stage involves the return of deceased hostages’ remains to their families and the initiation of Gaza’s reconstruction. This phase signifies a long-term resolution and recovery process for the war-torn region.

Hamas has reportedly agreed to release 33 Israeli hostages in exchange for approximately 1,000 Palestinian detainees. However, the exact number of hostages alive remains unclear, as Hamas has refrained from disclosing their conditions.

Reactions and Historical Context

This agreement represents the first formal ceasefire since a temporary truce in November 2023. That truce facilitated the exchange of 100 Israeli hostages and 240 Palestinian prisoners but was short-lived. The current conflict, which began with a large-scale Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, has since escalated into the deadliest confrontation between the two sides. Over 46,000 Palestinians, many of them women and children, have lost their lives, according to Gaza health officials. Meanwhile, the Israeli military has reported the deaths of 405 soldiers.

Statements from the Hostages and Missing Families Forum expressed profound relief, commending the collaborative international efforts that made the agreement possible. “After over a year of anguish, the possibility of reuniting with our loved ones fills us with immense hope,” the forum stated.

While the path to lasting peace remains fraught with challenges, this agreement represents a significant step forward in addressing one of the most devastating conflicts in the region’s history.