Qatar announces Gaza cease-fire deal, implementation to begin Jan. 19
Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani addresses a press conference at the Diwan Annex in Doha, Qatar, Jan. 15, 2025. (AFP Photo)
Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammed bin Abdulrahman announced Wednesday that mediators have reached a cease-fire agreement for the Gaza Strip, set to take effect on Jan. 19, Sunday.
“The two belligerents in the Gaza Strip have reached a deal on the prisoner and the hostage swap, and announce a cease-fire in the hopes of reaching a permanent cease-fire between the two sides,” he said.
1st phase to last 42 days
The agreement’s first phase will last 42 days and includes the release of 33 Israeli detainees in exchange for an undisclosed number of Palestinian prisoners, bin Abdulrahman said in a press conference.
The first phase of the deal would see Hamas release 33 captives, he added, “including civilian women and female recruits, as well as children (and) elderly people… in return for a number of prisoners who are being held in Israeli prisons”.
Qatar, Egypt and US to oversee implementation
He added that Qatar, Egypt, and the United States will oversee the agreement’s implementation and monitor any potential violations.
Bin Abdulrahman also expressed hope that no military operations would take place leading up to the agreement’s start.
Meanwhile, Hamas said the cease-fire was the “result of the legendary steadfastness of our great Palestinian people and our valiant resistance in the Gaza Strip for over 15 months”.
Israel currently holds more than 11,000 Palestinian prisoners, while it is estimated that 98 Israelis are detained in Gaza. Hamas has stated that several Israeli captives were killed in indiscriminate Israeli airstrikes.
Israel’s war on Gaza, which began after a Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023, has resulted in over 46,700 deaths, the majority of whom are women and children. This has continued despite a U.N. Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire.
In November 2024, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel is also facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice related to its actions in the enclave.
