After 15 months of conflict, Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire that could halt the war in Gaza. The deal, brokered by the U.S. and Qatar, includes a hostages-for-prisoners exchange and a surge in humanitarian aid, offering a fragile hope for peace.
Israel and Hamas have reportedly agreed on a ceasefire deal that could halt the Gaza war, as announced by the U.S. and Qatari mediators. If finalized, the agreement marks a major breakthrough after 15 months of conflict, which began with Hamas’s attack on Israel in October 2023.
While details are not yet fully disclosed, the deal involves halting hostilities and an exchange of hostages and prisoners. Hamas, which initially took 251 hostages, still holds 94, though Israel estimates only 60 remain alive. In return, Israel is expected to release around 1,000 Palestinian prisoners, some held for years.
The ceasefire will roll out in three stages:
Stage 1: A six-week ceasefire includes the release of 33 hostages, primarily women and children, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Israeli troops will withdraw from Gaza’s populated areas, allowing displaced residents to return. Humanitarian aid will also be ramped up, with hundreds of trucks delivering supplies daily.
Stage 2: Negotiations will aim for a permanent end to the war, releasing the remaining hostages and additional Palestinian prisoners. Israeli troops would fully withdraw from Gaza.
Stage 3: Focused on rebuilding Gaza, this phase includes infrastructure reconstruction and the return of any remaining hostages’ bodies.
However, significant uncertainties remain. Deep distrust between Israel and Hamas complicates the agreement. Israel has resisted Hamas’s demands to release certain prisoners, and the fate of some hostages is unknown. The durability of the ceasefire is also uncertain, as previous agreements have collapsed due to skirmishes.
This fragile deal offers hope but leaves critical questions unanswered, including the long-term presence of Israeli troops in buffer zones and whether the ceasefire will lead to lasting peace.
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Israel’s defence minister has ordered the military to stop an aid ship carrying Greta Thunberg from reaching Gaza.
The U.S. vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution demanding an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza and unrestricted humanitarian aid access, citing the need to condemn Hamas and ensure their disarmament. The veto comes amid escalating violence and a worsening humanitarian crisis
Stadler has launched the production of passenger railcars in Kazakhstan and presented the first completed unit to the country’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during his visit to the plant in Astana.
Norway intends to increase its total spending on defence and broader security to 5% of its GDP, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere announced on Friday, aligning with a proposed NATO-wide target.
Spain has refused to endorse a proposed NATO target requiring member states to spend 5% of their GDP on defense, risking friction ahead of next week’s alliance summit in The Hague.
President Ilham Aliyev has signed a decree approving the 'Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the People's Republic of China on International Multimodal Transportation.'
Diplomatic representatives accredited in Azerbaijan have arrived in the East Zangezur and Karabakh regions for a multiday visit showcasing post-conflict reconstruction and cultural development.
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Norway intends to increase its total spending on defence and broader security to 5% of its GDP, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere announced on Friday, aligning with a proposed NATO-wide target.
Spain has refused to endorse a proposed NATO target requiring member states to spend 5% of their GDP on defense, risking friction ahead of next week’s alliance summit in The Hague.
Stadler has launched the production of passenger railcars in Kazakhstan and presented the first completed unit to the country’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during his visit to the plant in Astana.
Norway intends to increase its total spending on defence and broader security to 5% of its GDP, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere announced on Friday, aligning with a proposed NATO-wide target.
Spain has refused to endorse a proposed NATO target requiring member states to spend 5% of their GDP on defense, risking friction ahead of next week’s alliance summit in The Hague.
President Ilham Aliyev has signed a decree approving the 'Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the People's Republic of China on International Multimodal Transportation.'
Diplomatic representatives accredited in Azerbaijan have arrived in the East Zangezur and Karabakh regions for a multiday visit showcasing post-conflict reconstruction and cultural development.
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