The Israel-Gaza ceasefire agreement: Let’s pray it works

A few hours ago, it was announced officially in Qatar’s Doha that after Egyptian Qatari American mediation efforts, Palestinian factions led by Hamas group and Israel signed a ceasefire agreement for a prisoner exchange and the establishment of sustainable calm, paving the way for a permanent ceasefire.

Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire in Gaza, Qatar's PM Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani announced. pic.twitter.com/Xm5uZXbUAu

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) January 15, 2025

The agreement will take effect on Sunday 19 January 2025 at 12.15 PM.

The agreement consists of three phases to de-escalate the situation and restore stability.

Phase One (Duration: 42 Days):

1. Ceasefire: Both parties commit to a complete cessation of hostilities.
2. Israeli Forces' Withdrawal and Redeployment: Israeli forces will withdraw from densely populated areas and reposition outside these zones.
3. Prisoner and Detainee Exchange: The parties will exchange prisoners and detainees, as well as the remains of deceased individuals.
4. Return of Internally Displaced Persons: Internally displaced residents of Gaza will be allowed to return to their homes.
5. Medical Evacuations: Facilitate the exit of patients and injured individuals for treatment.

Rafah crossing will start working starting on Thursday and by working here, we mean to fix on the Palestinian side as the Israeli army completely destroyed the Palestinian side of Rafah crossing.

Additionally, the first phase includes the intensification of humanitarian aid delivery across the Gaza Strip, ensuring safe and effective distribution on a large scale. 

It will also prioritize the rehabilitation of critical infrastructure, including hospitals, health centres, and bakeries, the delivery of civil defence supplies and fuel and the provision of shelter materials for displaced individuals who lost their homes due to the war.

Here is the detailed ceasefire plan from the Middle East Eye in English.

Strangely this is like the identical ceasefire plan proposed and approved by Hamas but approved then rejected by the Israelis in May 2024

Then if you remember Israelis unofficially accused the Egyptian mediators' team led by Major General Ahmed Abdel Khalek from the Egyptian General Intelligence Service of changing the terms of the Gaza ceasefire deal to appease Hamas.

If this ceasefire works, then it will be a big triumph for both Egypt and Qatar.

If you wonder what happened and changed the Israeli's mind, well it is not a secret, but it is Donald Trump who turned to have more power over Benjamin Netanyahu than the Biden administration. It is unbelievable to the level we have to ask what kind of pressure and power Trump has.

What I fear for real is that the price of the Israel-Gaza ceasefire agreement will be the annexation of the West Bank. Or is it the annexation of the Syrian territories Israel has been invading so far?

Is this what Trump promised Bibi? Or it is finalizing the Israeli-Saudi naturalization agreement?

There is something fishy.

Nevertheless, the Palestinians in Gaza deserve peace.

Let’s pray it works fine on Sunday.