Key mediators in a ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel say that a landmark agreement has been reached to pause the 15-month war in the Gaza Strip. Israel has said the deal is in its final stages.
A ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas that will see some hostages freed and a pause in hostilities has been reached, US President Joe Biden and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said on Wednesday.
The deal would “halt the fighting in Gaza, surge much needed-humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians, and reunite the hostages with their families after more than 15 months in captivity,” Biden said, whilst Al Thani announced the deal would take effect on 19 January.
However, families of the hostages captured in Gaza began to celebrate in Tel Aviv, the office of Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pushed back on confirmation that a final agreement had been reached.
“Several clauses in the framework remain unresolved, and we hope the details will be finalised tonight,” said a statement from his office.
The deal between the pair reportedly hit a snag late Wednesday over the Philadelphi Corridor — a strategic strip of land along the border between Gaza and Egypt. Israel said Hamas had attempted to change an already agreed understanding for security arrangements along the border, but had eventually backed down.
Hamas have not yet officially commented on a potential deal.
Netanyahu has also faced opposition from hardliners in his cabinet, with his National Security Minister Itamir Ben-Gvir threatening to resign in protest to the proposed deal.
His government is set to officially vote on the deal on Thursday morning with reports swirling that, despite opposition, the majority of ministers will agree on the truce.
If agreed, a ceasefire deal would bring at least a temporary pause to a devastating 15-month war in the Gaza Strip that has killed thousands, sparked a parallel conflict in Lebanon and destabilised the Middle East.
On Tuesday, US officials signalled the deal was premised on three phases which included an initial six-week pause in fighting and the release of nearly 33 Israeli hostages that were taken into Gaza by Hamas militants on 7 October.
At least some Palestinians are expected to be allowed to return to their homes and around 1,000 Palestinians prisoners held in Israel would be released. Israel and Hamas are expected to work out an agreement for a lasting peace during the ceasefire’s phases.
Negotiations have long been fragile and Qatar, US and Egyptian officials have said multiple times they were close to a deal to no avail.
The agreement is largely based on one proposed by US President Joe Biden in May, however, experts have suggested that upcoming president-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration may have applied pressure on officials to come to a truce.
Trump was quick to take credit for a potential ceasefire deal, posting on Wednesday on his Truth Social platform, “WE HAVE A DEAL FOR THE HOSTAGES IN THE MIDDLE EAST. THEY WILL BE RELEASED SHORTLY.”
Read the full article here
