Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Agreement Signed, to Be Implemented in Three Phases | WPN World People News

After Israel and Hamas announced a ceasefire agreement on the 15th, Israel continued airstrikes on Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized Hamas for attempting to extort, which delayed Israel's agreement to the ceasefire talks and raised concerns about potential changes to the deal. After intense negotiations, Israel's security cabinet approved the ceasefire agreement on the 17th, and negotiators from both sides formally signed the agreement in Doha, Qatar, on the 18th. Both sides also agreed to release hostages. The ceasefire will officially take effect on the 19th, marking the potential end of the 15-month armed conflict.

According to the agreement, the ceasefire will be implemented in three phases. In the first phase, Israel's military will completely withdraw from Gaza's densely populated areas, allowing hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinian residents to return. Hamas will release 33 Israeli hostages, while Israel will free 1,000 Palestinian prisoners. After the first batch of hostages is released on the 19th, Hamas will free 4 female hostages seven days later, with a continuing pace of releasing 3 hostages every seven days.

The first phase of the ceasefire will last for six weeks, during which both sides will continue to negotiate toward a final peace agreement. The second phase will begin on the 16th day after the first phase. During this phase, Hamas will release all remaining male hostages, including soldiers and conscripts, while the Israeli military will fully withdraw from Gaza. In the third phase, Hamas will return the remains of deceased hostages and begin the reconstruction of Gaza, re-establishing local governance and security structures.