Israel and Hamas have tentatively agreed to a ceasefire deal, mediators announced Wednesday, halting a devastating 15-month conflict in the Gaza Strip and raising the prospect of ending the deadliest and most destructive fighting between the bitter enemies.
The agreement, which comes after weeks of arduous negotiations in the capital of Qatar, promises the gradual release of dozens of hostages held by Hamas, the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israel and would allow hundreds of thousands of displaced people in Gaza to return to Loop. what remains of their homes. It would also flood much-needed humanitarian aid into a devastated territory.
Three U.S. officials and one Hamas official confirmed that a deal had been reached, while a senior Israeli official said details were still being worked out.
The three US officials requested anonymity to discuss the contours of the agreement before the official announcement by mediators in Doha.
President Joe Biden was preparing to address the groundbreaking deal later Thursday, officials said.
The agreement must still be approved by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet, but is expected to come into force in the coming days.
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The Israeli government will vote on a Gaza ceasefire deal on Thursday, a government official told Reuters.
The deal is expected to see an initial cessation of fighting for six weeks, which will be accompanied by the opening of negotiations to end the war entirely.
Over six weeks, 33 of the nearly 100 hostages will be reunited with their loved ones after months in captivity without contact with the outside world, although it is unclear if all are alive.
It was unclear exactly when and how many displaced Palestinians would be able to return to what remains of their homes and whether the deal would lead to a complete end to the conflict and the full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, key Hamas demands for freeing the Palestinians. remaining captives.
Many long-term questions remain about Gaza, including who will govern the territory or oversee the massive reconstruction task.
Still, the announcement offered the first sign of hope in months that Israel and Hamas might be ending the deadliest and most destructive war they have ever fought, a conflict that has destabilized the entire Middle East and sparked protests around the world.
Hamas sparked the conflict with its cross-border attack on October 7, 2023, which killed about 1,200 Israelis and took another 250 hostage. Israel responded with a fierce offensive that killed more than 46,000 Palestinians, according to Hamas health officials. displaced approximately 90% of Gaza's population and sparked a humanitarian crisis.
More than 100 hostages were released from Gaza in a week-long truce in November 2023.
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