By Abiola Olawale
The Israeli government has approved a ceasefire and hostage deal with Hamas, which could mark the end of a 15-month escalating conflict in Gaza.
The Israeli cabinet approved the ceasefire deal, with plans for it to start on Sunday, January 19, 2025. The approval came after overcoming last-minute hurdles, with the Israeli security cabinet recommending the deal’s ratification to the full cabinet.
This agreement involves a phased approach, starting with a six-week ceasefire, during which Hamas is expected to release 33 hostages, including American citizens, women, and the elderly. In exchange, Israel will release 1,000 Palestinian prisoners.
Subsequent phases include further releases of hostages and prisoners, withdrawal of Israeli troops, and the initiation of a major reconstruction plan for Gaza.
This development has brought a mix of relief and cautious optimism to both Israelis and Palestinians, amidst continued violence even after the announcement of the agreement.
This comes after months of heated war between Israel and Hamas. It would be recalled that the war escalated in October 2023 after Hamas launched a significant and coordinated attack on Israel, which reportedly included rocket barrages and infiltrations into Israeli territory. This operation was reportedly one of the deadliest in terms of casualties for Israel in recent decades.
Following the attack, Israel responded with what would become one of the most intense military operations in Gaza since the 2014 conflict. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) launched extensive air strikes targeting Hamas infrastructure, including tunnels, weapon caches, and command centers.
The death toll was reported in the tens of thousands, with estimates suggesting a significant undercount due to the chaos of war and communication breakdowns.
