What does the ceasefire agreement in Gaza between Israel and Hamas say?

Temporary Ceasefire agreement Israel and Hamas announced on Wednesday that the agreement would begin with an initial phase lasting six weeks, including the release of 33 hostages and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and allowing the entry of 600 trucks loaded with humanitarian relief daily, according to a copy of the agreement obtained by Hamas. New York Times.

The document says that the agreement requires Hamas to release three hostages on the first day, four more on the seventh day, and 26 others during the next five weeks. In return, Israel must release several Palestinian prisoners for each hostage, including some serving life sentences in some cases, the agreement stipulates.

Among the 33 hostages to be released in the first phase are women, children, men over the age of 50, and the sick or wounded. It is still unclear how many of the 33 people are still alive, but Israeli officials estimate that most of them are still alive.

At the beginning of the first phase, Israel will have to move its forces eastward, and on the seventh day, Palestinians displaced in southern Gaza could begin to return to the northern part of the area, according to the document.

Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in southern Gaza have been living in tents, temporary shelters, rented homes and their relatives’ apartments for more than a year. It is likely that many of those planning to return to the north will find that their homes and neighborhoods have been destroyed, especially residents of Jabalia, a town located in northern Gaza.

The interim agreement stipulates that at least 60,000 temporary homes and 200,000 tents will be brought to Gaza during the initial phase.

While the agreement calls for the entry of 600 trucks per day, UN officials said that increasing the flow of humanitarian aid to that level would be a challenge. Officials said Israeli restrictions, looting, a shortage of truck drivers and other factors made it difficult to get enough relief supplies into Gaza. The current number of trucks entering Gaza daily is far less than 600 trucks.

By the 16th day of the first phase, negotiations will begin on the second phase of the deal – which will also last six weeks – especially details regarding further exchanges of Palestinian hostages and prisoners.

The agreement stipulates that during the second phase, Israel and Hamas will declare a “permanent cessation of hostilities,” Israeli forces will withdraw from Gaza and the remaining living hostages will be exchanged for Palestinian prisoners.

Hamas has long said it would only agree to an agreement that ends the war, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refused to end the conflict, suggesting he may seek to resume fighting the group after freeing some hostages.