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Ceasefire and hostages: Biden gives details of the deal between Israel and Hamas
The negotiations between Israel and Hamas were lengthy and stalled several times. Now there is a breakthrough – and the first details of the deal are leaking out.
According to Qatar, Israel and the Islamist Hamas have agreed on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of more hostages in return for Palestinian prisoners. The ceasefire is scheduled to begin on Sunday, Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani announced after talks in Doha.
Outgoing US President Joe Biden also confirmed the agreement. He will announce more about this soon, it said in a statement. The USA is determined to bring all hostages home. US President-elect Donald Trump writes about the “hostages in the Middle East”: “They will be released soon,” he said. “This epic ceasefire agreement could only come about through our historic victory in November,” he wrote online. This signaled to the world that “my administration would pursue peace and negotiate agreements to ensure the security of all Americans and our allies.” The deal comes a few days before the change of power in Washington.
Israel said in the evening that individual points still needed to be clarified. “Several clauses of the framework remain open,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said on Wednesday. Israel hopes that the details can be clarified on Thursday night.
Biden gives details of the possible deal
Israel’s cabinet is expected to vote by a majority to approve the deal on Thursday. The outgoing US President Biden has explained in detail the contents of the negotiated Gaza deal. The agreement is about that Three-step planwhich he had already presented in the spring, said the Democrat in the White House in Washington. According to Biden, the phases for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of hostages in return for Palestinian prisoners are as follows:
- Phase one: The first phase is scheduled to last six weeks. It should include: A complete ceasefire and withdrawal of Israeli forces from all densely populated areas of the Gaza Strip. Palestinians should therefore be able to return to all parts of the Gaza Strip. A certain group of hostages should also be released first – including women, the elderly and the injured. Biden emphasized that these included American citizens. In return, hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned in Israel should be released. The aim is also to immediately bring large-scale humanitarian aid to the coastal area.
- Phase two: During the six-week phase one, the necessary agreements should then be negotiated to move to phase two: a permanent end to the fighting. The ceasefire should last as long as these negotiations are ongoing – even if this drags on for longer than six weeks. In the second phase, all remaining living hostages should be released, including male soldiers. And the Israeli military should completely withdraw from the Gaza Strip. “And the temporary ceasefire will become permanent,” emphasized Biden. The Democrat said at the end of May that this second phase should also last six weeks.
- Phase three: In the third phase, according to Biden, the last remains of killed Israeli hostages should be returned to their families. In addition, reconstruction in the Gaza Strip should then begin. At the end of May, Biden promised a period of three to five years.
The news of an agreement between Israel and the radical Islamic group Hamas on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip has sparked jubilation in the Palestinian territory. Thousands of people in the Gaza Strip gathered in groups on the streets to celebrate, AFP reporters reported from Deir al-Balah in the center of the Palestinian territory and other areas. People danced, hugged each other and took photos of themselves to capture the special moment.
Tough negotiations between Israel and Hamas
Hopes of a final agreement on a ceasefire have been repeatedly dashed in the tough negotiations. But days earlier, outgoing US President Joe Biden’s security advisor was optimistic.
“We are close to an agreement and it can come this week,” Jake Sullivan said Tuesday.
Donald Trump’s threats may also have had an impact: the US President-elect had threatened Hamas with “hell” in Gaza if the Israeli hostages were not free by his inauguration on January 20th. ()
Note: This article has been updated several times.
DPA · Reuters · AFP
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Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
