Officials from all sides confirm agreement, set to take effect Sunday; security cabinet set to meet Thursday morning to approve the accord
Fifteen months after the war in Gaza began with Hamas’s devastating attack on southern Israel, Jerusalem and the Palestinian terror group reached an agreement Wednesday on a ceasefire and hostage release deal.
The deal was confirmed by officials from Israel, Hamas, the United States, Egypt and Qatar, and was expected to take effect on Sunday, January 19, with the first of the hostages set to be released that day.
Speaking at a press conference from Doha, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani confirmed the agreement and Sunday’s starting date.
The complex accord, which has not yet been published, outlines a six-week initial ceasefire phase and includes the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip and the release of hostages taken by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian security prisoners held by Israel.
