What do we know about Israel and Hamas ceasefire deal?

Israel and Hamas have reached a ceasefire deal to halt the ongoing war in Gaza and exchange Israeli captives for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons.

Israel and Hamas reached the deal after 15 months of war. US President Joe Biden confirmed the deal.

The agreement will begin on Sunday [January 19], said Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani.

On Wednesday, Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani announced the agreement in Doha on Gaza truce and captive exchange but the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned that several proposals remained ‘unresolved’.

The deal involves a complete ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the release of all the hostages.

The agreement also will manage to pave the way for increased aid deliveries to Palestinians.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said the deal’s first priority is to ease the tremendous suffering caused by this conflict. The UN is ready to increase aid deliveries to the Palestinians.

According to the Hamas-run Civil Defence agency report, Israeli airstrikes, despite the deal, killed more than 20 people on Wednesday.

On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched an attack on southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and carrying 251 prisoners back to Gaza.