New Delhi:
This ceasefire agreement made in three phases includes complete ceasefire, withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and release of hostages.
Israel and Hamas agreed to a historic ceasefire agreement on Wednesday night to end the 15-month-long Gaza war. This ceasefire agreement made in three phases includes complete ceasefire, withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and release of hostages.
10 latest updates on Israel-Hamas ceasefire
- The ceasefire agreement brokered by Egypt, Qatar and America has been divided into three phases. The first phase will be a complete ceasefire; Israeli forces will withdraw from populated areas of Gaza; American hostages, including women and the elderly, would be released; The return of Palestinian citizens to their neighborhoods and humanitarian assistance will be increased.
- The second phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement will bring a permanent end to the war. The remaining hostages will be exchanged; Israeli forces will withdraw from Gaza; The temporary ceasefire will become permanent.
- The third and final phase of the ceasefire will include a major reconstruction plan for Gaza and the return of the remains of hostages to their families.
- Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani hopes that the announcement of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza will “play an important role in ending aggression, destruction and killing in the occupied Palestinian territories and ushering in a new phase.” He said Qatar’s diplomatic role in reaching a ceasefire was its “humanitarian duty before political duty”.
- US President Joe Biden said that this was one of the most difficult negotiations ever. He said, “The road to this deal has not been easy. I have worked in foreign policy for decades – this has been one of the toughest negotiations I have ever had. And we got to this point because Israel, with US support, But put pressure on.” The outgoing US President said that he prepared the exact outline of this plan on May 31, 2024, after which it was implemented unanimously by the United Nations Security Council.
- The ceasefire agreement came five days before the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump, who had threatened that “everything will be ruined” if the hostages were not released by then. Taking full credit for the agreement, Trump said, “This ceasefire agreement could be reached only after our historic victory in November.”
- US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller praised the “crucial” role of Trump-elect Donald Trump’s team in brokering a ceasefire and hostage deal between Israel and Hamas. Thanking the Trump team for working on the ceasefire agreement, he said, “We think it’s important that they were present during the negotiations. It shows when Americans are willing to work together across party lines.” “Much more can be done, as we were prepared to do on this occasion because it is in the national interests of the United States.”
- Gaza’s civil defense agency said at least 20 people were killed in Israeli strikes following the announcement of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas on Wednesday. Agency spokesman Mahmoud Bassal told AFP that several attacks had taken place in the area, killing at least 20 people, including 18 in Gaza City. He said that “despite the declaration of ceasefire the attacks did not stop”.
- Israeli President Isaac Herzog called a cabinet meeting to approve the ceasefire agreement. Saying the state had “failed in its duty” to prevent the October 7 attacks, Herzog called on it to improve. “This is the right step. This is an important step. This is a necessary step. There is no greater moral, humanitarian, Jewish or Israeli obligation than bringing our sons and daughters back to us,” he said.
- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has welcomed the agreement for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages. He appreciated the efforts of the mediators – Egypt, Qatar and America – in brokering this agreement. He wrote in his post on “We will do everything humanly possible, because we know the serious challenges we face.”