The Israeli government ratified a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip and the release of hostages early on January 18, according to a statement from the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following a meeting lasting over six hours, AFP reported.
The ceasefire, set to begin on Sunday, marks the end of fighting and bombing in the deadliest war in Gaza’s history.
It will also enable the release of hostages held by Hamas, a group designated as a terrorist organization by the European Union and the United States, since the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.
Israel’s Ministry of Justice announced that 737 detainees and prisoners would be released on January 18 as part of the first phase of the agreement.
Since the ceasefire announcement, dozens of people have been killed in Gaza during Israeli attacks.
Qatar, which mediated the agreement, stated that the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip would take effect on Sunday morning at 6:30 a.m. GMT.
“According to coordination between the parties involved in the agreement and mediators, the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip will begin on Sunday, January 19,” said Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Majed al-Ansari, in a post on X.
He advised the population to take precautionary measures and await guidance from official institutions.
As reported by AFP, the ceasefire will come into effect ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration, as he credited himself for collaborating with the outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden’s team to finalize the deal.
The agreement had been previously approved by Israel’s security cabinet, with Netanyahu’s office stating it “supports achieving the goals of the war.”
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas confirmed that the Palestinian authorities had completed preparations to “take full responsibility in Gaza” after the war.
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How many Palestinians were killed in the Israeli offensive in Gaza?
The conflict erupted in October 2023 when militants led by Hamas attacked southern Israeli settlements, killing approximately 1,200 people—mostly civilians—and taking 251 hostages into Gaza, according to Israeli data.
Israel responded with a devastating offensive on the Palestinian enclave, where, according to Gaza’s health authorities under Hamas control, 46,788 people were killed, 110,453 injured, and the majority of the population displaced.
The Israeli military operation destroyed large parts of Gaza, forcing about 90% of the 2.3 million residents to leave their homes. Hundreds of thousands are struggling with hunger and disease in unhygienic refugee camps along Gaza’s coastline.
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Source: RSE, Photo: Israel Goverment