A breakthrough ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas is set to take effect Sunday morning, marking a potential turning point in the devastating conflict that has gripped Gaza since October 2023. The deal, announced by Qatar’s foreign ministry, promises the release of dozens of hostages and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners while bringing much-needed humanitarian relief to Gaza’s residents.
Ceasefire timing and initial exchanges
Qatar’s foreign minister Majid al-Ansari confirmed the ceasefire will begin at 8:30 a.m. (0630 GMT) Sunday. The carefully negotiated agreement outlines a staged release of captives, starting with three female hostages on the first day, followed by four more on day seven. The remaining 26 hostages are scheduled for release over the subsequent five weeks.
In exchange, Israel has committed to releasing over 700 Palestinian detainees during the deal’s first phase. The Israeli justice ministry stipulated that releases will not commence before 4 p.m. local time Sunday, with all listed individuals being either young people or women.
Scope of the agreement
The six-week pause in hostilities represents the second ceasefire since the conflict began. The deal encompasses the release of 33 hostages, though the complete list of those to be freed remains undisclosed. A second phase of negotiations, planned during the initial ceasefire period, will address the release of remaining captives, including male soldiers.
Hamas maintains that any further hostage releases will require both a permanent ceasefire and complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Nearly 100 hostages remain in captivity following Hamas’s October 7 attack, which killed approximately 1,200 people in Israel.
Humanitarian impact
The agreement promises increased humanitarian aid access to Gaza, where the Israeli military response has resulted in over 46,000 Palestinian casualties, according to local health officials. These officials note that more than half of the deceased are women and children, though they do not differentiate between civilian and militant casualties. Aid trucks have already begun assembling at the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing, preparing to enter Gaza once the ceasefire takes effect.
More details about the ceasefire terms and implementation are expected to emerge as the agreement takes effect.
