Ceasefire reached in Gaza: Is the war over?
Review
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16 January
4250After 15 months of devastating conflict in the Gaza Strip, a ceasefire agreement has finally been reached between Hamas and Israel, following mediation efforts. The announcement was met with celebrations in both Gaza and Israel, particularly in Deir al-Balah and Tel Aviv.
On January 15, news agencies reported that the agreement was imminent. Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who played a key role in the negotiations, confirmed the deal during a press conference in Doha.
"Qatar, Egypt, and the United States are pleased to announce the success of the joint mediation efforts, which led the parties to reach an agreement on the exchange of hostages, a ceasefire, and the restoration of peace," Al Thani stated.
He explained that both sides had agreed to complete all technical procedures on the night of January 15, with the Israeli government finalizing internal arrangements. The implementation of the agreement is set to begin on Sunday, January 19, although the exact start time will be determined later.
The agreement will be implemented in phases. The first phase, lasting 42 days, will include a ceasefire, during which Israeli forces will withdraw eastward from civilian areas and deploy along the Gaza border. Hostage and prisoner exchanges will occur under an established mechanism.
Al Thani clarified that the details of the second and third phases would be finalized during the first phase. He confirmed that Hamas would release 33 hostages, including women, children, the elderly, and wounded civilians, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons. The first phase will also include the release of some Palestinian prisoners in return for Israeli hostages—30 Palestinians for each Israeli citizen and 50 Palestinians for each Israeli soldier.
The Qatari Prime Minister emphasized that the success of the agreement depends on the commitment of both parties, with continued mediation to ensure its implementation. He further stated that the second phase of the agreement would involve a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops and a formal declaration of the end of the war, with steps to solidify the agreement in the days ahead.
While the ceasefire marks a significant development, the full resolution of the conflict and its long-term effects will depend on the successful execution of subsequent phases.
In a special address, US President Joe Biden outlined the details of the newly reached ceasefire between Hamas and Israel. According to Biden, the first phase of the agreement will focus on the release of all American hostages. The second phase will involve the release of all remaining hostages and the completion of Israeli troop withdrawals, which Biden stated would mark "a complete end to the war."
“If negotiations on all the details extend, the transition from phase one to phase two could take more than six weeks, but during that period, a ceasefire will remain in effect,” Biden explained.
Both President Biden and former President Donald Trump, who will soon take office again, have claimed to have played a major role in the ceasefire agreement. While Biden acknowledged his administration's collaboration with Trump’s incoming team to reach the deal, he emphasized his own role in finalizing the agreement. He stated that the framework of the deal followed the “clear outlines” of the plan he initially proposed in May 2024. When asked after the press conference who was behind the deal, Biden responded with, “Is this a joke?” and left the room.
Trump, who had previously threatened action against those responsible for the Gaza hostages by January 20, posted on Truth Social, calling the deal "epic" and suggesting it was only possible because of his election victory. He wrote, “It sent a signal to the world that my administration is committed to peace and negotiating for the safety of all Americans and our allies.”
Both administrations have been closely involved in the ceasefire efforts. Biden’s envoy, Brett McGurk, and Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, were both present in Doha when the negotiations concluded.
The deal now in effect allows President Biden to end his presidency with a significant diplomatic achievement. Meanwhile, Trump will be sworn in on January 20, and could join the celebrations when American hostages are returned to the United States in the coming weeks, marking a positive beginning to his second term.
"One of the things we've always said about this deal is that when we move from phase one to phase two, the United States, Egypt, and Qatar will be the guarantors of this deal. Egypt and Qatar will put pressure on Hamas to stay at the negotiating table and move from phase one to phase two. The United States will push Israel to stay at the negotiating table and move from phase one to phase two," Miller said.
"There is a monitoring mechanism. Egypt, Qatar, and the United States agreed to create it in Cairo, a three-state working group that will monitor the implementation of the deal. We expect the parties to comply with the terms of the deal. But these documents are very complex, there can be problems, but we have decided to deal with them," the Qatari leader added.
A monitoring mechanism will also be established to oversee the implementation of the agreement. Egypt, Qatar, and the United States have agreed to form a three-state working group based in Cairo to monitor progress. Despite the complexity of the documents, the parties are committed to resolving any issues that arise during the process.
Hamas political bureau member Khalil al-Haye expressed gratitude for the support of Turkey, South Africa, Algeria, Russia, China, and other nations that have backed the rights of Palestinians. He reiterated that Israel has failed to achieve its objectives in the ongoing conflict and emphasized the Palestinians' capacity to rebuild Gaza.
Israeli President Yitzhak Herzog described the agreement as a necessary and rightful step. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked US President-elect Donald Trump for his assistance in the process. The Israeli Cabinet is scheduled to meet on January 16 to approve the agreement, while a meeting in Cairo will be held to discuss the next steps for implementation.
As mentioned earlier, many are celebrating the recent ceasefire agreement in Gaza, with both Palestinians and Israelis expressing relief. World leaders have also welcomed the agreement, signaling hope for stability in the region. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres pledged support for the implementation of the deal and the increase of humanitarian aid to Gaza’s population.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan voiced optimism that the ceasefire would benefit the region, adding that Turkey is mobilizing all its resources to help rebuild Gaza and support its people. The Turkish Foreign Ministry stressed that the agreement should lead to a sense of permanent peace.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized that ensuring a better future for both Israel and the Palestinian people should be a priority for the international community. French President Emmanuel Macron called the ceasefire a relief for the people of Gaza and advocated for a political solution to the ongoing conflict.
However, despite these diplomatic hopes, media reports indicate that Israeli forces have continued their attacks in Gaza, killing at least 40 Palestinians since the ceasefire announcement. This raises concerns that the war is far from over.
It is worth recalling that a week-long humanitarian truce brokered by Egypt and Qatar in November 2023 allowed the release of 110 hostages, according to Israeli sources. Yet, the ceasefire was broken on December 1, leading to the resumption of hostilities. Multiple negotiations in 2024, involving Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, failed to produce an agreement on the terms of a lasting peace.
As the agreement is set to take effect on January 19, there is hope that the situation will stabilize and that those responsible for monitoring the ceasefire will honor their commitments, bringing an end to the bloodshed.
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