Israel and Hamas have agreed a ceasefire starting on Sunday to halt the devastating 15-month war in Gaza, Qatar’s Prime Minister says.
Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani said the deal will lead to the release of Israeli captives and surging humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Qatar, Egypt and the US’ efforts to secure a ceasefire deal in Gaza have been successful.
Qatar and Egypt will work to ensure the implementation of the agreement.
Momentum towards this breakthrough had been building over the course of the past month.
The ceasefire deal will take effect on Sunday, January 19.
Hamas agreed to release 33 Israeli captives during the first phase of the deal, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
The first phase of the deal will last 42 days.
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Biden says long-term truce still being negotiated
US President Joe Biden has said a ceasefire will be in place as long as Israel and Hamas remain at the negotiating table on a long-term truce.
He added that a “full and complete” ceasefire will be part of phase one of Gaza deal.
Biden also said his administration and that of President-elect Donald Trump were “speaking as one team” in negotiations on a Gaza deal.
Hamas says Gaza ceasefire deal due to Palestinian ‘steadfastness’
Palestinian group Hamas said its ceasefire deal with Israel to halt the war in Gaza was the result of the “steadfastness” of the Palestinian people and its own “resistance”.
“The ceasefire agreement is a result of the legendary steadfastness of our great Palestinian people and our valiant resistance in the Gaza Strip for over 15 months,” the group said, adding that it paved “the way towards the realisation of our people’s aspirations for liberation and return”.
Gaza ceasefire ‘essential and overdue’: Aid group
The head of the International Rescue Committee says Gaza is in desperate need of humanitarian assistance.
“The needs are immense, and need urgent attention,” David Miliband said in a statement.
“IRC teams on the ground have done outstanding work in the most difficult conditions. Many of these colleagues were displaced in makeshift shelters themselves. We are determined to expand our scale and impact as conditions allow,” he said.
“The scars of this war will be long-lasting, but a surge of aid is desperately needed to provide immediate relief to civilians.”
‘Imperative’ Gaza ceasefire removes aid obstacles, UN chief says
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said it was “imperative” that the newly announced Gaza ceasefire removes obstacles to aid deliveries as he welcomed the deal that includes a prisoner and captive exchange.
“It is imperative that this ceasefire removes the significant security and political obstacles to delivering aid across Gaza so that we can support a major increase in urgent life-saving humanitarian support,” Guterres said.
Qatar thanks Trump’s envoy for helping with talks
Sheikh Mohammed expressed gratitude for parties that helped with the ceasefire negotiations, including Steve Witkoff, the Middle East envoy of incoming US President Trump.
“I would like to thank our partners in Egypt and the United States, especially the envoy of the American president-elect to the Middle East, Mr Steve Witkoff, and the White House Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa Mr Brett McGurk, for their efforts that led to pushing the negotiations forward,” the Qatari prime minister said.
Witkoff had travelled to the region and met with top officials in Qatar and Israel earlier this month.
More on Qatar’s news conference on Gaza ceasefire deal
Here are the main points made by Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani as he announced a ceasefire deal in Gaza.
Qatar, Egypt and the US’s efforts to secure a ceasefire deal in Gaza have been successful.
Qatar and Egypt will work to ensure the implementation of the agreement.
Momentum towards this breakthrough had been building over the course of the past month.
The ceasefire deal will take effect on Sunday, January 19.
Hamas agreed to release 33 Israeli captives during the first phase of the deal, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
The first phase of the deal will last 42 days.
Al Jazeera
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