Israel and Hamas have come to an agreement on a ceasefire in Gaza; what are the next steps? aljazeera.com

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Israel and Hamas have reached a ceasefire agreement after 15 months of war, which has devastated Gaza, home to 2.3 million Palestinians. The deal is set to be implemented in three phases starting Sunday, January 19, 2025.

The agreement includes a surge in humanitarian aid, a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces, and the release of Israeli captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. It also addresses post-war reconstruction efforts in Gaza, where over 60% of buildings have been damaged or destroyed.

Implementation Timeline:
– Phase One (January 19): Initial six-week ceasefire with the release of 33 Israeli captives and approximately 1,000 Palestinian prisoners. Humanitarian aid will increase significantly, with around 600 trucks allowed daily into Gaza.
– Subsequent Phases: Negotiations for the second phase will begin on February 3, focusing on further releases and a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces. The final phase will address reconstruction efforts and the return of any remaining captives' remains.

The Israeli Cabinet's approval of the deal has been delayed due to internal political conflicts within Prime Minister Netanyahu's coalition government. His far-right allies have expressed opposition to the agreement.

Despite the announcement of the ceasefire, violence continues, with reports of Israeli airstrikes resulting in casualties among Palestinians even after the deal was made public. There are concerns regarding the vague wording of the ceasefire text and its potential implications for long-term peace.

News Sources:
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/01/15/us/whats-in-the-hamas-israel-ceasefire-and-hostage-release-deal/index.html
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/16/israel-and-hamas-reach-gaza-ceasefire-deal-what-are-the-next-steps
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/15/what-do-we-know-about-the-israel-gaza-ceasefire-deal
https://ici.radio-canada.ca/rci/en/news/2132903/israel-hamas-reach-gaza-ceasefire-deal-in-15-month-war-qatari-pm