Qatar Announces Gaza Cease-Fire Agreement to Begin Sunday Amid Ongoing Israeli Airstrikes
Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani announced a cease-fire agreement for the Gaza Strip, set to take effect on Sunday, January 21, Anadolu Agency reported. The agreement was reached through mediation efforts involving Qatar, Egypt, and the United States.
The initial phase of the agreement will last 42 days and includes the release of 33 Israeli detainees in exchange for an unspecified number of Palestinian prisoners. It also aims to facilitate humanitarian aid distribution in Gaza, which encompasses the rehabilitation of hospitals, health centers, and bakeries. Additionally, the agreement will allow displaced residents to return home and enable the injured to seek medical treatment abroad.
Al Thani emphasized the importance of cooperation from both parties and ongoing mediation efforts to ensure the agreement’s success. The second phase of the agreement seeks to establish lasting peace by halting all military operations permanently, with further details to be announced after the first phase’s successful completion.
Hamas welcomed the cease-fire, viewing it as a victory for the Palestinian people. Celebrations erupted across Gaza and among Palestinian communities in the West Bank and abroad, as international leaders expressed hope for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict.
According to Al Jazeera, the Israeli military has intensified attacks on the Gaza Strip since the announcement, killing at least 40 Palestinians. The killings come as the Israeli cabinet prepares to vote on the deal.
