The agreement includes a six-week initial ceasefire period, the phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the exchange of hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian detainees in Israeli custody, the Reuters news agency reported.
The deal follows protracted negotiations mediated by Egypt and Qatar, with strong support from the United States, Reuters reported, citing an official familiar with the negotiations.
The announcement came just before the January 20 inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump, who took credit for the deal, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.
The war between Israel and Hamas began on October 7, 2023, when the Palestinian militant group launched a large-scale attack from the Gaza Strip, killing around 1,400 people and kidnapping over 200 as hostages, according to the Israeli government.
Israel responded with extensive airstrikes and ground operations in Gaza, leading to tens of thousands of deaths and a massive humanitarian crisis, according to Palestinian health officials.
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Source: Reuters, IAR, PAP