CAIRO — A ceasefire between Hamas and Israel is set to commence on Sunday at 8:30 a.m. local time (0630 GMT), as announced by Qatar, the mediator in the conflict. Families with hostages in Gaza are anxiously awaiting news, while Palestinians are getting ready to welcome those who will be freed, and humanitarian organizations are mobilizing to deliver increased aid.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that the ceasefire will only proceed if Israel receives the names of the hostages who are to be released, as agreed upon. His remarks came roughly three hours after Israel anticipated getting the names from Hamas through Qatar. No immediate comment has followed from either Hamas or the Qatari authorities.
The Israeli Cabinet’s approval of the ceasefire on Saturday, conducted unusually during the Jewish Sabbath, triggered an emotional response from families who are uncertain if their loved ones would return home alive.
This temporary halt in the ongoing conflict represents a critical step towards bringing an end to one of the most intense periods of fighting between Israel and Hamas, occurring more than a year after the previous ceasefire was achieved.
Initially, the ceasefire is scheduled to last for 42 days, with discussions for a more challenging second phase planned to begin in just over two weeks. Following this initial period, the Israeli security Cabinet will evaluate the next steps.
Netanyahu emphasized that this ceasefire is only a temporary measure and that Israel reserves the right to resume military actions if deemed necessary. He conveyed to the nation shortly before the ceasefire’s start time that he has the backing of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, with whom he had a conversation on Wednesday.
Despite the upcoming ceasefire, Israeli airstrikes continued into Saturday, as Gaza’s Health Ministry reported that 23 bodies were brought to medical facilities in the past day. Abdallah Al-Aqad, whose sister was killed in an airstrike in Khan Younis, expressed his dismay, questioning the notion of a truce that results in fatalities just hours before its initiation. Reports indicated that an entire family, including their toddler-aged children, perished due to the violence.
Simultaneously, sirens were activated throughout central and southern Israel, with military forces indicating they intercepted missiles that were launched from Yemen. The Iran-aligned Houthi rebels in Yemen have escalated their assaults recently, claiming to stand in solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza.
On social media, Qatar’s foreign minister cautioned individuals in Palestine and the surrounding areas to remain vigilant once the ceasefire begins, urging them to await further guidance from authorities.
Israel’s military announced that Palestinians will be restricted from accessing the Netzarim corridor in central Gaza for the initial week of the ceasefire, also warning them against approaching Israeli troops.
Many individuals are eager to return home. “I will first check on my house,” said Mohamed Mahdi, a father displaced from Gaza City’s Zaytoun area, sharing his hope to reunite with relatives in southern Gaza while still grappling with anxiety over potential casualties before their reunion.
Majida Abu Jarad articulated her family’s struggles, having relocated seven times during the conflict to comply with evacuation mandates, often staying in makeshift camps or abandoned structures.
“We may remain in a tent, but at least the violence will cease, the fear will diminish, and we can finally sleep in peace,” she stated while in the process of packing.
The ceasefire’s first phase will see the release of 33 hostages from Gaza over six weeks, in exchange for 737 Palestinian detainees held in Israel. All prisoners being released during this phase are either youths or female. An advocacy group for victims of Palestinian violence has vowed to challenge this release in Israel’s Supreme Court.
According to the approved plan, the exchange is slated to initiate at 4 p.m. (1400 GMT) on Sunday, with three female hostages being released on the first day, four on the seventh day, and the remaining 26 in the weeks that follow. Each prisoner release will only occur once the respective hostages have been safely returned.
The agreement also stipulates that 1,167 Gazans, who were not implicated in the October 7 Hamas-led attacks that ignited the current conflict, will be freed. All female detainees and youth under 19 captured from Gaza will also be released during this stage.
Meanwhile, all Palestinian prisoners convicted of severe offenses will face exile to Gaza or abroad for various durations, and they will be barred from returning to Israel or the West Bank.
Discussions for the release of remaining hostages, including male soldiers, will take place during the first phase, with Hamas stating their terms for further releases require a lasting ceasefire alongside a complete Israeli withdrawal.
Additionally, during this initial stage of the ceasefire, Israeli forces will retreat into a buffer zone about one kilometer (0.6 miles) deep within Gaza, enabling many displaced families to return to their residences, particularly in Gaza City and the heavily bombarded northern region.
As families hope to return, humanitarian organizations anticipate a rise in food supplies, medical resources, and other support in Gaza. Egypt’s foreign minister remarked that the Rafah crossing, a vital outlet for Gaza, will be opening “soon,” allowing for an influx of aid even as it previously remained closed since Israel’s capture of the region.
He mentioned that they aim to permit 600 aid trucks, including 50 fuel-laden vehicles, to enter Gaza daily during the ceasefire period. However, these shipments will be subject to inspections by Israeli authorities.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres commented on the ongoing complexities in Gaza, highlighting the significant challenges that remain in delivering aid effectively.
The October 7 assault led by Hamas resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities, with around 250 people taken hostage. Currently, nearly 100 hostages are still believed to be in Gaza.
In retaliation, Israel launched offensives that reportedly resulted in over 46,000 Palestinian deaths, although local health sources do not differentiate between civilians and combatants, claiming that more than half of the deceased are women and children.
