Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire in Gaza, more than a year since conflict in the region reached a tipping point. The ceasefire was announced by Qatar’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, who helped mediate the deal.
The actions of the agreement will reportedly be staged, but sees the release of Palestinian and Israeli prisoners held by both sides. Per ABC News, the agreement will not entirely end the conflict, but is a first step towards peace. The agreement contains a six-week ceasefire period, during which time 33 hostages are the be released by Hamas, the Israel Defence Force (IDF) will begin a withdrawal from major population centres from Gaza, and Palestinians displaced from parts of Gaza will be able to return. The IDF will remain control of border areas.
Palestinians in Gaza are celebrating the news, with photos showing a gathering in the streets to watch the announcement on a TV. While the Israeli parliament votes on the deal, Hamas has called it “a great gain that reflects the legend that had been achieved through the steadfastness of Gaza, its people, and the bravery of its resistance”.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong have welcomed the news in a joint statement. “Australia will continue working with the international community towards a two-state solution — a Palestinian state and the State of Israel, living side by side in peace and security within internationally recognised borders,” the statement said. “We hope it will allow the Palestinian people the opportunity to rebuild, reform their governance, and pursue self-determination.” The statement also reiterated its condemnation of the October 7 events, and confirmed its position that “there must be no role for Hamas in the future governance of Gaza”. “Any future Palestinian state must not be in a position to threaten Israel’s security,” the statement concluded.
The news has also been welcomed by world leaders, with the UK Prime Minister Keir Stamer calling the agreement “long overdue”. Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden called it one of the “toughest negotiations” of his experience. The ceasefire agreement will begin on January 19, a day before the inauguration of incumbent president Donald Trump.
The conflict in Gaza was escalated in October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an attack on a southern area of Israel, killing roughly 1,200 people. Israel declared war on Gaza, killing more than 46,000 people to date, with over half of the victims being women, children or the elderly. While these are the present figures, the New York Times reports that the Gaza death toll could be up to 40 percent higher than present estimates, totalling around 64,000. Israel’s bombardment of the Gaza strip has drawn international condemnation from human rights groups and international lawmakers. The United Nations criticised Israel’s “acts of genocide”, including the IDF’s targeting of hospitals, press, humanitarian aid efforts and civilian areas in its attack on the region.
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