TEL AVIV A ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas has been achieved following a 15-month destructive conflict that has altered the Middle East, killed tens of thousands of people in the Gaza Strip, and left dozens of Israeli hostages in agonizing limbo.
Local health officials said the truce, which was first declared Wednesday, is anticipated to halt Israel’s shelling of Gaza, which has killed over 46,500 people and created a catastrophic humanitarian situation. In addition, hundreds of Palestinians jailed by Israel will be released, and dozens of hostages taken during the terror incident on October 7, 2023, who are still being held in Gaza, will be released gradually.
After the truce takes effect, hundreds of trucks carrying much-needed aid are also anticipated to begin arriving in the enclave every day.
What we now know about the three-phase agreement is as follows:
What happens first?
According to the Israel Defense Forces, the deal calls for a first ceasefire phase that will last around six weeks and begin on Sunday at 8:30 a.m. local time, or 1:30 a.m. ET.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had to get the permission of both his security cabinet and his entire cabinet before a ceasefire could be implemented. Netanyahu’s office announced early Saturday local time that the whole Cabinet had also approved the accord, which had been authorized by the security Cabinet on Friday.
As early as Sunday, the truce might be implemented, and the first prisoners might be freed on the same day.
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It follows a postponement announced by the Israeli leader’s office on Thursday, in which Hamas was accused of causing a “last-minute crisis” by breaking a portion of the agreement.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri denied stalling the accord in an interview with the Saudi state-run television network Al Arabiya on Thursday, stating that there was no evidence that the group had renounced the provisions of the ceasefire agreement.