Doha, Jan 15 (EFE) – Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani announced Wednesday in Doha that Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas had reached a ceasefire in Gaza.
The Qatari PM, who acted as a mediator between the parties, said “Hopefully this will be the last page in the days of war.”
He stressed the “necessity of both sides committing to the implementation of all three stages of the agreement” to “prevent civilian bloodshed.”
Qatar will continue its efforts with Egypt and the US to ensure that all sides live up to their commitments and obligations.
In his speech, he announced the first phase of the agreement, which will last 42 days and will include the entry of humanitarian aid and fuel throughout the Strip and the rehabilitation of hospitals.
During this first phase, Hamas will also release 33 Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, whose number was not specified.
Meanwhile, the parties will finalize the details of the second and third phases of the ceasefire, the Qatari PM explained.
Al Thani acknowledged that he has seen a “clear demonstration” of the US commitment to reach an agreement in recent days, following the “momentum” that began to build last month.
“We have seen steps that have been taken recently from the US that have yielded to this moment,” he said.
In his speech, he called for calm between the announcement of the agreement and its entry into force, expressing the mediators’ shared desire that there be no military operations during that period.
Reactions in the US
US President Joe Biden also announced the ceasefire and hostage deal.
“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,” Biden said.
In a press conference, he explained that the deal had been laid out in detail in May 2024, and that the first phase would last six weeks.
He explained that the first phase includes a “full and complete ceasefire, withdrawal of Israeli forces from all the populated areas of Gaza, and the release of several hostages held by Hamas.” In exchange, Israel will release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
Biden said that over the next six weeks, Israel will negotiate the necessary arrangements for phase two.
If negotiations take longer than six weeks, the ceasefire will remain in place as long as the negotiations continue.
The second phase will allow an exchange for the release of all remaining living hostages, including male soldiers.
The second phase will also include the withdrawal of all remaining Israeli forces from Gaza, and for the temporary ceasefire to become permanent, he said.
President-elect Donald Trump had also announced the deal before Qatar’s confirmation and claimed credit for it.
“We will continue promoting PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH throughout the region, as we build upon the momentum of this ceasefire to further expand the Historic Abraham Accords. This is only the beginning of great things to come for America, and indeed, the World!” Trump said.
“We have achieved so much without even being in the White House. Just imagine all of the wonderful things that will happen when I return to the White House, and my istration is fully confirmed, so they can secure more Victories for the United States!,” he added.
US President Joe Biden, during the press conference, was asked how much credit he would give to the incoming Donald Trump istration.
Biden replied, “This is exactly the framework of the deal I proposed back in May Exactly” adding that he had instructed his team to “coordinate closely” with the incoming Trump team.” EFE
hu-sr-se-rsm-cgs/mcd
