People react to the reports of a possible Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal being reached during a rally calling for the return of captives held in the Gaza Strip on Jan. 15, 2025 in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Amir Levy | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Qatar’s foreign ministry said the ceasefire between Israel and Hama s will go into effect at 0630 GMT on Sunday.
The ceasefire will pause the fighting after 15 months of war and see the release of dozens of hostages held by the militants in the Gaza Strip and hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.
Israel’s Cabinet approved the deal early on Saturday; the ceasefire will see the first hostages released.
Brokered by mediators the United States, Qatar and Egypt in months of indirect talks between the warring sides, the ceasefire is the second truce achieved in the devastating conflict.
Israel’s war against Hamas has killed over 46,000 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. It does not say how many of the dead were militants. Israel says it has killed over 17,000 fighters, without providing evidence.
Under the deal, 33 hostages are set to be released over the next six weeks, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.
The remainder, including male soldiers, are to be released in a second phase that will be negotiated during the first. Hamas has said it will not release the remaining captives without a lasting ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal.
Hamas has agreed to free three female hostages on Day 1 of the deal, four on Day 7 and the remaining 26 over the following five weeks.
