Israel and Hamas have finally reached an agreement for a ceasefire and hostage exchange deal. The world has heaved a sigh of relief, in anticipation of the end to unspeakable brutality heaped on each side by the other.
First, a bit about the deal itself. The deal was announced on Wednesday, 15 January, in Doha, where negotiations had been on between Israel, Hamas, the US, Egypt, and Qatar. The Gaza ceasefire will take effect on 19 January, Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said in a press conference in Doha on Wednesday.
The agreement consists of three phases, the first of which includes a "full and complete ceasefire"; the withdrawal of Israeli forces from all the populated areas of Gaza; the release of 33 Israeli hostages held by Hamas – including women, elderly and wounded prisoners – over a period of 42 days; and the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners – 30 for each Israeli hostage and 50 for each female soldier along with all Palestinian women and children under 19 detained since 7 October.