The much-anticipated ceasefire and hostage release agreement between the Israeli government and Hamas is set to go into effect on Sunday, marking a potential turning point in the violent 15-month conflict that has gripped the Middle East. The agreement, consisting of three phases, will commence at 8:30 a.m. local time (1:30 a.m. ET) this Sunday. The initial phase, expected to last six weeks, will bring a halt to hostilities in Gaza and the liberation of 33 Israeli hostages and nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees. Humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza will be increased, with 600 trucks now scheduled to enter the territory daily, a significant rise from the 614 truckloads of aid brought in during the first two weeks of January, as reported by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
While the agreement was finalized between Hamas and Israel on Wednesday, it awaited the final authorization from the Israeli government. The 33-member cabinet deliberated for over seven hours until early Saturday before approving the agreement, with 24 votes in favor, eight against, and communications minister Shlomo Karhi abstaining, according to an Israeli official cited by CNN. This will be the second ceasefire since the conflict began on October 7, 2023, following an attack by Hamas-led militants on Israel resulting in over 1,200 casualties and approximately 250 hostages, as per Israeli reports. Israel’s military response has led to more than 46,000 Palestinian fatalities and over 110,000 injuries in Gaza, based on data from the Palestinian Ministry of Health, which does not differentiate between combatants and civilians in its statistics.
Though appeals from Israeli individuals opposing the release of Palestinian prisoners are pending in the Supreme Court, this is not anticipated to hinder the commencement of the ceasefire.
The breakthrough has kindled newfound hope, albeit cautiously, among the families of the remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza, many of whom are unsure of the status of their loved ones. Sharone Lifschitz, whose father has been detained in Gaza since October 7, expressed uncertainty about his well-being, telling CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, “Nobody knows the fate of their loved one for sure. If he has remained alive, it’s a wonderful miracle.” In addition to the 33 Israeli hostages, foreign captives, including Americans, are expected to be released, according to a source familiar with the matter.
Negotiations for the subsequent phases of the ceasefire will commence on the 16th day of its implementation, as stated by an Israeli official. A joint operations center will be established in Cairo to oversee the agreement’s enforcement, with representation from Egypt, Qatar, the United States, Israel, and other stakeholders.
Palestinian officials, as reported by Egypt’s state-affiliated Al Qahera News and citing a senior Egyptian official, have made significant strides in negotiating a deal aimed at providing vital humanitarian relief to the beleaguered Gaza enclave. The agreement presents an opportunity for humanitarian workers to transport much-needed aid into Gaza, where the United Nations has highlighted the dire living conditions facing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who are struggling to access basic necessities.
In anticipation of the deal taking effect on Sunday, a substantial number of aid trucks filled with food, clothing, medical supplies, and other relief materials have amassed at the Rafah border crossing. These trucks, originating from various regions of Egypt’s North Sinai, have been waiting for months to deliver their crucial cargo. However, despite this initial influx of aid, the United Nations has cautioned that the increased assistance will only serve as a starting point in alleviating the severe humanitarian crisis gripping the enclave.
The impending ceasefire offers a temporary respite for the residents of Gaza who have endured relentless Israeli airstrikes over the past 15 months, resulting in widespread destruction and devastation across the region. Following the announcement of the ceasefire agreement by mediator Qatar, scenes of jubilation erupted in Gaza, even as Israeli bombardment continued unabated in the days that followed, leading to the tragic loss of more than 122 lives, including 33 children, according to Gaza’s Civil Defense.
Historically, a previous ceasefire in November 2023 lasted only a week, during which time Hamas released 105 hostages, predominantly women, children, and elderly individuals, while Israel reciprocated by freeing approximately 240 Palestinian prisoners from its detention facilities. The political landscape in Israel has been tense, with Prime Minister Netanyahu facing significant opposition from far-right parties threatening to withdraw from the government should the ceasefire deal be ratified, potentially jeopardizing his majority in the Knesset.
In a bid to assuage concerns and rally support for the agreement, Netanyahu reportedly informed his security cabinet that he had obtained assurances from negotiators regarding U.S. backing for a return to hostilities should future talks with Hamas falter. This development underscores the delicate and complex nature of the ceasefire negotiations, which are crucial for restoring stability and addressing the longstanding conflict between Israel and Hamas.
As the situation in Gaza remains volatile and the humanitarian crisis persists, international attention and assistance are imperative in facilitating long-term solutions and sustainable peace in the region. The efforts of humanitarian workers, diplomats, and mediators play a pivotal role in navigating the intricate dynamics of the conflict and fostering dialogue to prevent further escalation of violence and suffering among the civilian population.
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Contributions to this report were made by CNN journalists Nadeen Ebrahim, Abeer Salman, Caitlin Danaher, Lauren Said-Moorhouse, Sana Noor Haq, Kareem Khadder, Jeremy Diamond, Lauren Kent, Helen Reg
