42-day ceasefire in Gaza set to start Sunday under Israel-Hamas deal

A ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas would go into effect Sunday if implemented, bringing relief to a battered and hungry population in Gaza as well as to the captives taken from Israel and held in the enclave for more than 15 months. The deal must still be approved by Israel’s cabinet and members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition government, with a vote expected Thursday.

The agreement is expected to start with a 42-day ceasefire in which the Israeli military would withdraw from some areas of Gaza, accompanied by a surge of aid into the Gaza Strip, and an exchange of Israeli hostages held by Hamas for Palestinians held in Israeli prisons, according to remarks by President Joe Biden. The next phase, which is still being negotiated, would bring the release of all hostages, a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a permanent ceasefire, Biden said.

The Biden administration and President-elect Donald Trump both claimed credit for the agreement, which was mediated by the United States, Egypt and Qatar, and is slated to begin the day before Trump takes office. Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, met recently with key parties, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the weekend, but was not a direct participant in negotiations.

Source » washingtonpost.com