Israel and Hamas Agree to Ceasefire, with Prisoner Swap and Aid Boost for Gaza
After more than 460 days of conflict, a ceasefire deal includes a prisoner exchange and a surge in humanitarian aid.
Israel and Hamas have reached a ceasefire agreement after over 460 days of devastating conflict in Gaza, according to statements from Israel, Qatar, and the United States.
Qatar's Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, confirmed on Wednesday that the ceasefire will begin on Sunday, although details on its full implementation are still being worked out. An Israeli government vote is expected on Thursday to finalize the deal, with some final details still pending.
Since the conflict began in October 2023, Israeli airstrikes have killed over 46,000 Palestinians. The ceasefire will provide temporary relief from the violence, including the release of captives from both sides and a surge in aid to Gaza. Displaced Palestinians will also be allowed to return to their homes, although much of the territory has been destroyed.
The First Phase
The first phase of the ceasefire will last six weeks and includes a limited prisoner exchange, partial Israeli troop withdrawals from Gaza, and the introduction of up to 600 aid trucks per day into the enclave.
Israel will release 33 Israeli captives, including civilians and older individuals, taken during Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel in October 2023. In return, a larger number of Palestinian prisoners, including those serving life sentences, will be freed. Approximately 1,000 Palestinians detained after the October 7 attack are also expected to be released.
Alongside the prisoner exchange, Israeli troops will pull back from Gaza’s population centers, limiting their presence to areas no more than 700 meters from the border. However, the withdrawal from the Netzarim Corridor, a militarized zone along the strip, will take place in stages.
Israel will allow civilians to return to their homes, particularly in the north of Gaza, where aid organizations warn of a growing famine. A surge of humanitarian aid will be delivered, and wounded Palestinians will be permitted to leave Gaza for medical treatment. The Rafah crossing to Egypt will open seven days after the ceasefire begins.
What Comes After the First Phase?
Details of the second and third phases are still under negotiation, though US President Joe Biden has stated that the ceasefire will continue even if talks on the later phases extend beyond the initial six weeks.
However, Israel has insisted on no written guarantees that attacks will not resume once the first phase concludes. Negotiators from Egypt, Qatar, and the US have provided Hamas with verbal assurances that further discussions will proceed and that a deal on the subsequent phases will be reached within the initial six-week window.
The Second Phase
If conditions are met, the second phase will involve Hamas releasing the remaining captives, mostly soldiers, in exchange for the release of additional Palestinian prisoners. This phase also includes a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. However, these terms are controversial within Israel’s right-wing government, with many leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, previously opposing such a move.
The Third Phase
The final phase, which remains unclear, would involve the return of the remaining captives' bodies and the implementation of a long-term reconstruction plan under international supervision. A dispute remains over who will govern Gaza after the ceasefire.
The US has proposed that the Palestinian Authority oversee reconstruction and governance, with Arab states contributing forces for short-term security. However, support for this plan is contingent on progress toward Palestinian statehood, a contentious issue in Israeli politics.
As of now, Israel has not proposed an alternative plan for Gaza’s post-ceasefire governance.