Qatar’s foreign ministry has confirmed that a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is set to take effect at 0630 GMT on Sunday. This truce will bring a halt to the hostilities that have spanned 15 months and will facilitate the release of numerous hostages currently held by the militants in the Gaza Strip, alongside the release of hundreds of Palestinians detained by Israel. The Israeli Cabinet gave its consensus for the deal early on Saturday, marking the commencement of the initial hostages’ release.
This ceasefire comes as a result of prolonged indirect discussions, mediated by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt, between the conflicting parties, and represents the second agreement reached amidst the harrowing conflict. The humanitarian toll has been severe, with reports from Gaza’s Health Ministry indicating that over 46,000 individuals have lost their lives, primarily women and children. Israel claims to have eliminated more than 17,000 fighters, but details concerning the identities of the deceased remain vague.
In other developments, UN Secretary-General António Guterres assured the international community’s assistance to Lebanon as it embarks on a path to recovery. He expressed optimism regarding Lebanon’s resurgence during a meeting in Beirut with the newly elected president, Joseph Aoun, who is in the process of forming a new government after a prolonged 26-month presidential vacancy. Guterres emphasized the importance of the newly appointed leaders in fortifying Lebanese institutions and enabling the army to establish presence throughout the nation, particularly in areas vacated by Israeli forces.
“As soon as the conflict ends, reconstruction begins,” he stated. This U.S.-mediated ceasefire aims to conclude the Israel-Hezbollah war, which has resulted in over 4,000 fatalities and more than 16,000 injuries in Lebanon. According to the terms of the agreement, Hezbollah is expected to withdraw from the border region, allowing only Lebanese troops and UN peacekeepers to maintain an armed presence along the Israeli border.
Meanwhile, Naim Kassem, a leader within Hezbollah, praised the sacrifice of the Palestinian people for thwarting Israel’s attempts to diminish the importance of the Palestinian cause. He conveyed through Al-Manar TV that the Lebanese government must take robust measures to guard against any Israeli breaches of the newly brokered 60-day truce intended to halt the 14-month-long Israel-Hezbollah conflict. Kassem warned that Israel has breached the truce multiple times since it came into effect on November 27 and cautioned that Hezbollah’s patience has its limits.
Domestically, Hezbollah faces calls for disarmament from its adversaries, who argue that only state institutions should possess weaponry. Kassem responded by asserting that the group’s arms should be integrated into a national defense framework discussed through national dialogue, urging that no faction within Lebanon leverage the ongoing Israel war for internal gain.
Under the recent ceasefire agreement, 33 hostages are expected to be freed over a span of six weeks in return for the release of hundreds of Palestinians held by Israel. The subsequent phase, which includes the release of male soldiers, will be negotiated during the first phase. Hamas has declared that it will not release any remaining captives unless a lasting ceasefire is established and there is a full Israeli troop withdrawal. For the first day of the agreement, Hamas will release three female hostages, followed by four on the seventh day and the remaining twenty-six over the course of five weeks.
In response to the ceasefire terms, Israel’s Justice Ministry has disclosed a list comprising over 700 Palestinian prisoners who are slated for release as part of the pact aimed at halting the conflict with Hamas. This announcement emerged shortly after Israel’s full Cabinet endorsed the ceasefire agreement. Scheduled for no earlier than 4 p.m. local time on Sunday—the day the exchange commences—the list includes individuals associated with the Hamas and Islamic Jihad militant factions, many of whom are serving lengthy sentences for serious crimes such as murder. Notably absent from this list is Marwan Barghouti, a prominent 64-year-old prisoner regarded as a potential future Palestinian leader, which has raised concerns as Hamas insists on his release as a precondition for any ceasefire deal—a demand that has been dismissed by Israeli officials.
