33 hostages for 737 prisoners, 42 days: Israel-Hamas Gaza ceasefire approved

Mangalore Today /ht

Israel-Gaza, January 18, 2025: Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet, despite opposition from some far-right members of the government, accepted the truce deal after a high-level meeting.

The deal was mediated by key negotiators Qatar and Egypt, with US officials being closely involved in the deal. The agreement aims to bring an end to the war that began with Hamas’ surprise attack into Israel on October 7, 2023.

Israel-Gaza ceasefire deal in points

The first phase of the ceasefire agreement will last for 42 days and will see the release of 33 hostages held in Gaza by Hamas. Qatari prime minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani said that hostages will include "civilian women and female recruits, as well as children, elderly people...civilian ill people and wounded".

Two sources close to the militant group told news agency AFP that three Israeli women soldiers would be the first ones to be released on Sunday evening, though Hamas refers to all Israel citizens of military age as soldiers.

In exchange for the hostages, Israel "was prepared to pay a heavy price - in the hundreds", said government spokesperson David Mencer. Israeli justice ministry said that 737 prisoners and detainees will be released in the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal, an AFP report said. The names include men, women, and children. However, Israel said that it will not release anyone before 4 pm local time on Sunday.

Three points have been set up, one each at Kerem Shalom and Erez, both border crossing with Gaza, and one in Reim to the east of the region. Hostages would be released to the points, where doctors and mental health specialists will examine them. After this, they will be transported to hospitals in Israel via helicopter or vehicle.

Israeli forces will withdraw from Gaza’s densely populated areas during the initial 42 days to allow the swap of prisoners and displaced Palestinian people. An Israeli military official said that the army had come up with a "revised defensive plan" involving "strengthening defensive measures along the Gaza Strip border".

While Israeli forces will step back from specific locations and routes within the Gaza Strip, residents will not be allowed to return to areas where Israeli troops are present or those near the Israel-Gaza border.

Under the proposed ceasefire deal, Israel would also maintain a buffer zone within Gaza during the first phase, AFP reported citing Israeli media. Israeli forces are likely to stay in place up to "800 metres inside Gaza from Rafah in the south to Beit Hanun in the north", an AFP report cited a source close to Hamas.

While Israeli troops won’t fully withdraw from Gaza until "all hostages are returned", it would allow displaced Palestinians to return through an electronic checkpoint with cameras.


Qatari PM Sheikh Mohammed, meanwhile, said that the mediating countries, Qatar, Egypt and the US, will closely monitor the truce deal through a body based in Cairo.

There was a "clear mechanism to negotiate phase two and three", he added.