Gaza ceasefire to begin Sunday morning

A ceasefire in the Gaza war will begin Sunday morning, according to Qatar, after Israel's cabinet approved a deal for the release of hostages and Palestinian prisoners.

The deal, mediated by Qatar, the U.S., and Egypt, was announced on Wednesday, although Israeli airstrikes have continued since then.

On Saturday, Gaza's civil defense rescue agency reported that at least five members of a family were killed in Khan Yunis when a strike hit their tent.

Explosions were also heard in Jerusalem, where air raid sirens blared after the Israeli military intercepted a missile launched from Yemen.

The Houthi rebels, who are backed by Iran, claimed responsibility for the missile, stating they had targeted the Israeli defense ministry. Air raid sirens also sounded in southern Israel in the afternoon, with another missile intercepted by the military.

Qatar's foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari confirmed that the ceasefire would take effect at 8:30 a.m. (0630 GMT) Sunday, as agreed by the parties to the deal and the mediators.

This will be the second truce in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, which began after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023.

The first truce, which lasted one week, took place in November 2023 and also saw the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed that the cabinet had approved the deal, stating that it "supports achieving the objectives of the war."

FILE: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepares to take the stand for the first time in his corruption trial Reuters

However, Hamas criticized Israel, claiming the country had "failed to achieve its aggressive goals" and had "only succeeded in committing war crimes that disgrace the dignity of humanity."

As part of the deal's first phase, Israel’s justice ministry said 737 Palestinian prisoners and detainees would be freed, with the first group of releases occurring after 4:00 p.m. (1400 GMT) on Sunday.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani stated that the deal’s initial phase would involve the release of 33 hostages held by Hamas.

Smoke rises inside the Gaza Strip, before a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas goes into effect, as seen from the Israeli side of the Gaza border in southern Israel, January 18, 2025.Reuters

Sheikh Mohammed emphasized that the deal mirrors one agreed upon in December 2023, which he described as "13 months of wasted negotiating details."

The truce is set to begin on the eve of Donald Trump's second presidential inauguration. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas stated that the Palestinian Authority, which has partial administrative control in the West Bank, has completed preparations to assume full control in Gaza after the war.

FILE: U.S. President-elect Donald Trump looks on during a press conference at Trump Tower in New York City, U.S., September 6, 2024. File/AFP

However, Israel has not expressed a clear stance on post-war governance in Gaza, rejecting any role for Hamas or the Palestinian Authority. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken suggested that Gaza should be placed under Palestinian Authority control after the war.

Ahead of the ceasefire, displaced Gazans are preparing to return home. "I will go to kiss my land," said Nasr al-Gharabli, a Gaza City resident who fled his home for a camp further south. "If I die on my land, it would be better than being here as a displaced person."

Jerusalem residents expressed hope that the ceasefire could lead to a lasting peace.

"Hopefully, a maximum amount of hostages will be coming back," said Beeri Yemeni, a university student. "Maybe this is the beginning of the end of suffering for both sides. The war needed to end a long, long time ago."

Israel’s cabinet approved the deal despite opposition from eight ministers, including far-right figures Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.

Israeli National Security Minister and head of Jewish Power party Itamar Ben-Gvir is flanked by members of his party as he gives a statement to members of the press, ahead of a possible ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in Jerusalem, January 16, 2025.Reuters

The war, which has lasted more than 15 months, was triggered by Hamas’s attack on Israel in October 2023. The attack killed 1,210 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli officials.

Of the 251 people taken hostage, 94 are still in Gaza, including 34 who are believed to be dead.

Israel’s retaliatory campaign has devastated Gaza, killing 46,899 people, the majority of whom are civilians, according to figures from Gaza’s health ministry.

Mediators worked for months to reach a deal, but their efforts gained traction only as Trump’s second-term inauguration neared. U.S. officials reported that Brett McGurk, an envoy for outgoing President Joe Biden, and Trump envoy Steve Witkoff were both involved in finalizing the agreement.

By December 1, 2024, nearly 69% of buildings in Gaza had been destroyed or damaged, according to satellite imagery analyzed by the UN’s Satellite Centre (UNOSAT).

The deal’s first phase will also see Israeli forces withdraw from Gaza’s densely populated areas, allowing displaced Palestinians to return to their homes.

The first group of hostages will be joined by doctors and mental health specialists at reception points in Kerem Shalom, Erez, and Reim, before being transported to Israeli hospitals.

In addition to the hostage exchange, Israel will release the first group of Palestinian prisoners, including several with lengthy sentences.

President Biden has indicated that a second phase of the agreement is still in the works and could lead to a permanent end to the war.

Humanitarian efforts are underway in Gaza, with hundreds of aid trucks waiting on the Egyptian side of the border. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty stated that 600 trucks, including 50 carrying fuel, will enter Gaza after the ceasefire takes effect.