Israel, Hamas reach Gaza ceasefire deal in 15-month war: Qatari PM
CBC
Israel and Hamas have reached a deal to pause the war in Gaza and release hostages, Qatar's prime minister announced Wednesday.
It comes more than 15 months into a deadly campaign that has killed more than 46,000 Palestinians in the war-torn enclave.
The deal would go into effect on Sunday, Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said in a Wednesday news conference.
But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said the final details were still being sorted out in the ceasefire deal with Hamas, without actually saying whether a deal had been reached.
The deal, not yet formally announced, outlines a six-week initial ceasefire phase and includes the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and release of hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian detainees held by Israel, an official briefed on the negotiations told Reuters.
The agreement still needs to be approved by Netanyahu's cabinet, but is expected to go into effect in the coming days. It also does not guarantee a permanent truce.
Al Thani said the agreed-upon deal has a mechanism in place that prevents it from collapsing.
"We know that these kinds of agreements are very complex and will have some issues down the line," Al Thani said Wednesday. "We are ready and we will stay committed to address those issues."
U.S. President Joe Biden confirmed the ceasefire deal Wednesday, adding that all U.S. hostages will be released in the first phase of the ceasefire.
"Fighting in Gaza will stop, and soon the hostages return home to their families," he said.
You can read the main points of the draft deal here.
Phase 1 of the deal, which will span 42 days, will include the release of 33 Israeli hostages, including all women, children and men over 50.
Israel will also gradually reduce forces in the Philadelphi corridor bordering Egypt during the first phase, with forces completely withdrawing no later than day 50, according to a copy of the deal seen by Reuters. The corridor was a stumbling block in past efforts to secure a ceasefire deal, with Egypt demanding Israel pulls out after seizing it in May.
Negotiations on implementing the second phase will begin by the 16th day of Phase 1 and it is expected to include the release of all remaining hostages, a permanent ceasefire and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
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