Ceasefire agreement in Gaza comes into effect
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – The ceasefire agreement in Gaza took effect on Sunday at 06:30 GMT. The release of hostages is expected to follow a few hours later.
Last week, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani announced the success of joint mediation efforts led by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt in brokering the agreement between Israel and Hamas. The deal includes a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and provisions for a prisoner and hostage exchange.
Earlier today, Hamas-affiliated media reported that Israeli forces had begun withdrawing from positions in the city of Rafah in Gaza to the Philadelphi route along the Egypt-Gaza border.
The first phase of the agreement, spanning six weeks, will see the release of 33 hostages from the remaining 98. This group includes women, children, men over fifty, and individuals who are sick or injured.
In return, nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees will be released. This includes 737 male and female inmates, some of whom are minors and members of armed groups convicted of attacks that resulted in the deaths of numerous Israelis. Additionally, hundreds of Palestinians detained in Gaza since the beginning of the war are set to be freed.
As part of the agreement, three female hostages are expected to be released this evening via the Red Cross, with 30 Palestinian prisoners released for each hostage.
US Chief Negotiator Brett McGurk stated that following Sunday’s initial release, the agreement stipulates the release of four more hostages after seven days, followed by three additional hostages every subsequent week.
The ceasefire agreement, which comes after 15 months of intense conflict, has been widely welcomed by foreign and Arab nations as a significant step toward de-escalation in the region.