Israel and Hamas have reached a ceasefire deal to end the Gaza war, Reuters reported on Wednesday, over 15 months after the October 7 attack by Iran-backed militants triggered the bloody conflict.
The Israel-Hamas deal outlines six-week initial ceasefire phase that includes gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from central Gaza and return of displaced Palestinians to north Gaza, Reuters reported citing an official briefed on the agreement.
According to the deal, Hamas will release 33 Israeli hostages, including all women (soldiers and civilians), children, and men over 50. Women and under-19 hostages will be released first.
Israel, in turn, will release 30 Palestinian detainees for every civilian hostage and 50 Palestinian detainees for every Israeli female soldier Hamas releases. Israel will also release all Palestinian women and children under 19 detained since October 7, 2023, by the end of phase one.
The total number of Palestinians released will depend on the hostages released and could range between 990 and 1,650 Palestinian detainees, including men, women, and children.
Hamas will release hostages over a six-week period, with three hostages released every week, and the remainder before the end of the period, Reuters reported citing the official briefed
The release of hostages will begin with the living, followed by the remains of those who have died.
Qatar, Egypt, and the US will guarantee the implementation of the agreement, Reuters said.
The agreement comes after months of fluctuating negotiations facilitated by Egyptian and Qatari mediators, with support from the United States, and was reached just before the January 20 inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump.
Israeli forces entered Gaza following an October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas-led militants who breached security barriers and infiltrated Israeli communities, killing 1,200 soldiers and civilians while taking over 250 hostages, both foreign and Israeli.
Israel's military actions in Gaza have resulted in over 46,000 deaths, according to Gaza health ministry data, leaving the coastal strip in ruins, with hundreds of thousands of survivors enduring harsh winter conditions in tents and temporary shelters.