Everything About the Israel-Hamas Ceasefire That You Should Know About

2025-01-16 , 12:14 pm

The world seems like a dark place right now. Unless you’ve been living under a rock (and if you are, rent must be cheap), you would’ve heard about the wildfire wiping out Greater Los Angeles, killing 25 people and destroying over 12,300 structures.

Chances are, you’ve heard about this especially if you use a phone. Even my grandmother knows about it.

But let’s talk about the most buzzed-about conflict of the 21st century: the Israel-Hamas war.

After more than 460 days of ongoing conflict, the Israel-Hamas war is finally seeing light at the end of the tunnel: a ceasefire.

If you haven’t kept up to date with what’s happening, here’s everything you need to know about the Israel-Hamas ceasefire.

To save you some reading time: there will be a temporary stop to destruct Gaza, prisoner exchanges between Gaza and Israel, and a surge in humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.

It’s like a group project where everyone finally agrees to do something productive.

Not the First Ceasefire, It’s the Second

If you’ve been seeing Israel and Hamas in the news but have no idea about the timeline, don’t worry, we’ve got your back.

This isn’t the first ceasefire. It’s the second.

The first ceasefire took place from 24 to 30 November 2023, about a month after the war began. During that week, 105 hostages held by Hamas were released, including women, children, and the elderly.

Israel, in turn, released 240 Palestinian prisoners.

This truce also allowed much-needed humanitarian aid to reach Gaza. Hostages were transported through the Rafah crossing into Egypt, one of the few lifelines into Gaza.

The Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Will Happen in 3 Phases

The ceasefire is planned to unfold in three phases.

Phase 1 is set to commence this Sunday (19 January 2025) and will span six weeks. This phase involves a limited prisoner exchange, the partial withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, and a significant increase in humanitarian aid to the region.

Specifically, 33 Israeli captives—comprising women, children, and civilians over the age of 50, taken during the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023—will be freed.

Naturally, everything is transactional. In return, Israel will release a larger number of Palestinian prisoners, including individuals serving life sentences. This group includes approximately 1,000 Palestinians detained since 7 October 2023.

As part of the first phase, US President Joe Biden confirmed that American hostages held in Gaza will also be released.

Although the timeline and specifics of the deal remain unclear, CNN has reported that further details will be announced once they are finalised.

Israel’s Withdrawal Plans

The agreement extends beyond hostage releases.

Israel is set to gradually withdraw its forces from Gaza’s population centers to positions no more than 700 meters inside Gaza’s border with Israel.

However, this withdrawal may exclude the Netzarim Corridor, a zone that divides the Gaza Strip. The withdrawal from Netzarim is expected to occur in stages.

Well, what even is the Netzarim Corridor?

The Netzarim Corridor is a 6-kilometre stretch established by the Israeli military during the ongoing war. It divides northern and southern Gaza and extends from the Israeli boundary near Gaza City to the Mediterranean Sea.

Additionally, Israel will reduce its military presence in the Philadelphi Corridor, a 14-kilometre-long, demilitarised buffer zone along the boundary between Egypt and Gaza.

This corridor runs from the Mediterranean Sea to the Kerem Shalom crossing, a critical juncture connecting Gaza, Egypt, and Israel.

Second and Third Phases to Undergo Negotiations

While the second and third phases have been agreed upon, the specifics will be negotiated during the initial six weeks of the first phase.

US President Joe Biden has stated that the ceasefire will remain in place even if discussions on the following phases extend beyond this timeframe.

If conditions for a second phase are met, Hamas is expected to release all remaining living captives, primarily male soldiers.

In return, Israel will free additional Palestinian prisoners.

Qatar, Egypt, and the US Are Mediators for the Ceasefire Agreement

Qatar, Egypt, and the US are the official mediators for the ceasefire conflict between Israel and Hamas.

You might be wondering why these countries are playing mediators for the ceasefire. It’s not random, I promise.

Qatar has maintained its ties with Hamas for years. They’ve even sent millions in cash to Gaza as aid.

Yes, actual suitcases of cash. Imagine explaining that at the airport.

On the other hand, the US has always been Israel’s ally. As one of Israel’s biggest allies, the US has been supplying Israel with military supplies and aid.

Meanwhile, Egypt shares a border with Gaza. It keeps the Rafah crossing open for humanitarian aid and supplies.

Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said that this ceasefire differs from the first, which was largely transactional.

He stated that this agreement has a clear framework for the initial 42 days of the ceasefire, with details and negotiations for phases two and three to be published once finalised.

The Israel-Hamas War: A Recap

The Israel-Hamas war began on 7 October 2023, when Hamas launched a large-scale attack on Israel. Over 1,100 people were killed in the initial attacks, with 240 taken captive.

Since then, the conflict has claimed the lives of 46,707 people, including 18,000 children. To put that into perspective, that’s one out of every 50 people in Gaza.

On top of that, nearly 22,500 people have suffered life-altering injuries, many of which require medical care that isn’t available.

With the ceasefire in place, there’s a glimmer of hope—but also a sense of uncertainty. Will it last? Only time will tell.