Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire deal with Israel after more than 460 days of a war that has devastated Gaza.
Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani said that the ceasefire deal would come into effect on Sunday January 12 but added that work on implementation steps with Israel and Hamas was continuing.
At this time, the deal includes a temporary ceasefire that will bring an end to the destruction visited upon Gaza, as well as the release of captives held in Gaza and many of the prisoners held by Israel.
The deal is also set to possess multiple phases. The initial phase lasting six weeks will involve a limited prisoner exchange, the partial withdrawal of Israeli troops in Gaza, and a surge of aid into the enclave.
Details of the second and third phases, though understood to be agreed to in principle, are to be negotiated during the first phase.
Israel has insisted that no written guarantees be given to rule out a resumption of its attacks once the first phase is complete and its civilian captives returned.
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