Ashraf Siddiqui
Doha
Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani on Wednesday announced that the joint mediation efforts of Qatar, Egypt and the US secured a Gaza ceasefire and prisoner swap deal between the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and Israel.
Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs said that the deal will take effect on Sunday, January 19, 2025.The PM said that according to this deal Hamas will release 33 hostages, in exchange of Palestinian prisoners, with both negotiating parties agreeing to continue working to complete the implementation details.
The Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs extended thanks to Egypt and the United States for their efforts that contributed to pushing the negotiations forward. He pointed out that Qatar, Egypt and the United States will work together to ensure the implementation of the ceasefire deal.
The PM said that under the visionary leadership of HH the Amir of State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Qatar has worked tirelessly to mediate and foster progress in resolving this conflict. These efforts have been ongoing since October 8th and reflect Qatar’s resolve to alleviate the suffering in Gaza, ensure the flow of aid, and uphold peace. Previous successes, such as the release of 109 hostages in November, exemplify the nation’s enduring commitment to conflict resolution.
He said that Qatar emphasizes the necessity for all parties to uphold their commitments under this agreement. By adhering to the outlined measures and timelines, this accord holds the potential to end the cycle of violence, restore hope, and lay the foundation for a prosperous future in the region.
In his concluding remarks, the PM said that Qatar remains steadfast in its promise to stand with the people of Gaza, provide relief, and work toward a sustainable peace. The State of Qatar, alongside its international partners, will continue its efforts to monitor and support the implementation of the agreement, ensuring that its objectives are fully realized. This moment is both a culmination of tireless efforts and a beginning of shared responsibility to bring lasting stability and hope to the region.
In a statement, Qatar, Egypt and the US announced that the parties to the conflict in Gaza have reached an agreement to release hostages in exchange of hostages and prisoners and return to a sustainable calm ultimately achieving a permanent ceasefire between the parties.
The agreement reached by the two parties includes three stages.
The first stage, which lasts for 42 days, includes a ceasefire, the withdrawal and redeployment of Israeli forces outside densely populated areas, the release of hostages and exchange of prisoners and detainees, the exchange of the remains of the deceased, the return of internally displaced persons to their places of residence in the Gaza strip, and facilitating the departure of patients and wounded to receive treatment.
The first stage also includes intensifying the safe and effective entry and distribution of humanitarian aid on a large scale throughout the Gaza strip, rehabilitating hospitals, health centers, and bakeries, bringing in civil defense supplies and fuel, and bringing in shelter supplies for displaced persons who lost their homes due to the war.
In this context, Qatar, Egypt and the US have affirmed that their policy as guarantors of this agreement is to help ensure that all three stages gets fully implemented by both parties. Accordingly, the mediators will work together to ensure that the parties implement their obligations in the agreement and that the three stages continue in full.
The guarantors will also work in coordination with the UN, other providers of assistance, and partners from around the world to support the rapid and sustained surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza under the terms outlined in the agreement.
"We call on other countries to join and support these efforts under mechanisms we have established to help implement the agreement,”the statement said.