Israel and Hamas have agreed a ceasefire deal for Gaza – tens of thousands of civilians have been killed since Benjamin Netanyahu ordered an invasion of Gaza following Hamas’ attack on Tel Aviv on October 7, 2023
Palestinians celebrate in streets after Gaza ceasefire agreement
A last-minute glitch in ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas has been resolved and a deal has finally been agreed.
Israel announced Hamas had tried to change agreed-upon understandings for security arrangements along the Philadelphi Corridor on Gaza’s border with Egypt. It strongly rejected the proposals. Qatar’s PM, who has been mediating the talks, met separately with Hamas and Israeli delegations, and shortly afterwards, the dispute was resolved. The Hamas official, also speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the matter was resolved.
In the hours before a deal being struck more violence broke out with Israel pounding Gaza, killing dozens of Palestinians. At least 24 Palestinians were killed in bombing runs from Tuesday into Wednesday, including two women and four children. One of the women was pregnant and her baby died as well.
Mediators ran into last-minute problems around the deal on Wednesday, which Israel claims was caused by Hamas trying to make changes to already agreed upon arrangements along Gaza’s border with Egypt. Hamas meanwhile called the claims “nonsense.” It forced Qatar to delay the expected ceasefire announcement, but that glitch was eventually overcome by late afternoon, according to sources.
Both sides have been working on a phased agreement that would include the release of dozens of hostages held by Hamas, the return of displaced Palestinians in Gaza to what remains of their homes and an influx of desperately needed humanitarian aid into the besieged territory.
The deal would also expect to trigger the release of an estimated 1,000 Palestinian prisoners who have been held for several years. It is understood that some 190 of the Palestinian prisoners are currently serving sentences of 15 years or more, although Israeli officials said anyone convicted of murder would not be released as part of the exchange.
Israel’s war on Gaza began on October 7, 2023, when militants stormed into southern Israel and killed around 1,200 people and abducted roughly 250. A third of the 100 hostages still held in Gaza are believed to be dead. More than 46,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed since.
In the West Bank, the Health Ministry said at least six people were killed by an Israeli airstrike in the Jenin refugee camp late Tuesday. The Israeli military confirmed a drone strike in the area but gave no further details. Israel has carried out months of raids in the camp in what it calls a crackdown against militants.
In the Gaza Strip, the bodies of 11 people were brought to Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital after a strike smashed into a house in Deir al-Balah, officials at the hospital said. Another strike killed six people in the built-up Nuseirat refugee camp and wounded seven more, according to Awda Hospital, which received the casualties. Some of the dead were brought to the hospital in pieces, medical officials said. Among those wounded was Khaled Rayan, the head of the nursing department at the hospital.
There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military. Israel says it only targets militants and accuses them of hiding among civilians. Earlier Israeli strikes in Gaza killed at least 18 people, including two women and four children, according to local health officials, who said one woman was pregnant and the baby died as well.
Thousands of Israelis gathered Tuesday night in Tel Aviv’s “hostages square” in anticipation of a ceasefire deal, with some singing and playing music on a stage. But some demonstrators in Jerusalem chanted, “You don’t make a deal with the devil”. Hadas Kalderon, whose ex-husband Ofer and two children were abducted by Hamas, said: “It’s a very critical moment, it can be the happiest moment but it can be also the worst.”