Gaza peace in sight as Hamas, Israel sign ceasefire deal

Qatar and the United States announced a ceasefire agreement to end the 15-month-long devastating war in Gaza, set to take effect on Sunday, following a hostage and prisoner exchange deal between Hamas and Israel.

Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, Hamas’ acting Gaza chief Khalil al-Hayya, US President Joe Biden, and President-elect Donald Trump confirmed the ceasefire after intense negotiations in Doha.

However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has yet to formally confirm the deal.

Israeli officials indicated that final details are being worked out, while President Isaac Herzog urged Netanyahu to approve the agreement once presented.

US President Joe Biden, in his announcement, stated that the six-week ceasefire would halt hostilities in Gaza, facilitate vital humanitarian aid for Palestinian civilians, and enable hostages to reunite with their families.

Biden emphasized that the pause in fighting would also provide an opportunity to negotiate a permanent resolution to the conflict.

Speaking at the White House, US President Joe Biden said that the deal had been reached after 15 months of suffering and would be followed by a surge of humanitarian aid in Gaza. “Fighting in Gaza will stop, and soon the hostages return home to their families,” Biden said.

The deal was reached after months of negotiations by the Biden administration, Biden noted.