Qatari PM Confirms Gaza Ceasefire Agreement Between Israel and Hamas, Effective Sunday
Gaza ceasefire deal secured with efforts of Qatar, Egypt, US: Qatari PM

Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani officially announced a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, which is set to take effect on Sunday, January 19.
This agreement follows extensive negotiations facilitated by Qatar, alongside the United States and Egypt, aimed at halting the ongoing conflict in Gaza that has persisted for 15 months.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani announced the agreement in the Qatari capital of Doha, the site of weeks of painstaking negotiations.
Qatari PM said that the Gaza deal came after extensive diplomatic efforts, but the ceasefire is a “start”, and now mediators and the international community should work to achieve lasting peace.
“I want to tell our brothers in the Gaza Strip that the State of Qatar will always continue to support our Palestinian brothers,” the Qatari prime minister said.
The proposed deal will be executed in three phases. The first phase involves the release of 33 Israeli hostages currently held by Hamas.
In exchange, Israel will release 50 Palestinian detainees for each female soldier freed, and 30 Palestinian prisoners for the remaining civilian hostages.
Israel will gradually reduce forces in the Philadelphi Corridor bordering Egypt during phase 1 of the Gaza ceasefire deal with forces completing their withdrawal no later than day 50, a copy of the agreement seen by Reuters.
The corridor was a stumbling block in past efforts to secure a ceasefire deal, with Egypt, a mediator along with Qatar and the US between Israel and Hamas, demanding Israel pull out after seizing it in May.
US President Joe Biden said on Wednesday that Israel and Hamas have reached a ceasefire and hostage deal that will end the fighting in Gaza and surge humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians.
“Today, after many months of intensive diplomacy by the United States, along with Egypt and Qatar, Israel and Hamas have reached a ceasefire and hostage deal. This deal will halt the fighting in Gaza, surge much humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians, and reunite the hostages with their families after more than 15 months in captivity,” Biden said in a statement.
On the other hand, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump claims that the ceasefire agreement ‘only happened as a result of a historic victory in November’.