Nairobi, Kenya, January 16- Fifteen months after the Gaza conflict began with Hamas’s devastating assault on southern Israel, an agreement was reached on Wednesday for a ceasefire and hostage release. The deal, confirmed by officials from Israel, Hamas, the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, is set to take effect on Sunday, January 19, when the first hostages are expected to be released.
Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani announced the agreement and the planned start date during a press conference in Doha. The detailed terms, which remain unpublished, include an initial six-week ceasefire phase. During this time, Israeli forces will gradually withdraw from the Gaza Strip, while Hamas will release hostages in exchange for Palestinian security prisoners held by Israel.
According to reports, Hamas is set to release 33 Israeli hostages over the first 42 days of the ceasefire. On the first day, three hostages will be freed, followed by four more on the seventh day. Thereafter, three hostages will be released weekly, with the final 14 freed during the last week of the initial phase. Negotiations for a second phase, which could secure the release of the remaining 65 hostages, will commence approximately two weeks into the ceasefire.
Despite the progress, Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office noted that some aspects of the agreement remain unresolved, expressing hope that these details would be finalized by the end of the day.
