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Gaza Ceasefire Set to Begin Sunday Morning
A ceasefire in the Gaza war is set to begin Sunday morning, as announced by Qatar, the mediator of the deal. The truce aims to halt over 15 months of intense fighting and destruction, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to bring back "all the hostages" held by Palestinian militants.
The initial 42-day ceasefire will see Palestinian militant groups release 33 hostages, starting with three on Sunday, while Israel will free hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, some of whom will be deported. Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesman, Majed al-Ansari, confirmed that the ceasefire will take effect at 8:30 am local time (0630 GMT) on Sunday.
Despite the announcement, Israeli airstrikes continued into the eve of the truce, with Gaza’s civil defense agency reporting the deaths of at least five family members in a strike on a tent in Khan Yunis. Meanwhile, Yemen’s Huthi rebels launched missiles at Israel, targeting Tel Aviv and the Red Sea port of Eilat in a show of support for Palestinians.
The ceasefire follows only one other truce during the war, in November 2023, which lasted for a week. Netanyahu, in a televised address, warned that if the war resumes, Israel would do so with full force, reiterating that the country had U.S. backing for such actions.
Hamas criticized Israel, claiming it had "failed" in its aggressive objectives and accusing it of war crimes. The Israeli government, however, insisted it had "changed the face of the Middle East" since Hamas’s October 7 attack.
The first phase of the agreement includes the release of 737 Palestinian prisoners, but none will be freed before 4:00 pm (1400 GMT) on Sunday. U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, expressed hope that Gaza could eventually fall under Palestinian Authority control, though Israel remains ambiguous about its post-war plans.
As displaced Gazans prepare to return home, the reality of rebuilding Gaza looms large. Humanitarian aid is critical, with hundreds of trucks lined up at the Egyptian border, poised to enter Gaza after the ceasefire begins. Egypt’s foreign minister announced that 600 trucks a day, including fuel, would be allowed to deliver aid.
The ceasefire marks a pivotal moment in a war that has cost tens of thousands of lives, but the future remains uncertain as the region waits to see if this truce will hold and lead to a lasting peace.