Egypt Daily News – Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman bin Jassim Al Thani announced on Wednesday that a prisoner exchange deal and a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip had been reached between Israel and Hamas.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar said in a press conference, “The State of Qatar, the Arab Republic of Egypt and the United States of America are pleased to announce the success of the joint mediation efforts with the two parties to the conflict in the Gaza Strip reaching an agreement regarding the exchange of prisoners and hostages and the return to sustainable calm leading to a ceasefire between the two sides.”
He added: “With the approval of both sides of the negotiation, work will continue tonight to complete the executive aspects,” stressing that “the implementation of the agreement begins on Sunday, the nineteenth of January.”
He pointed out that “according to the agreement, Hamas will release 33 hostages in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners, and the details of the second and third phases will be announced after the completion of the first phase of the agreement.”
Al Thani stressed that “Qatar, Egypt and the United States will work to ensure the implementation of the ceasefire agreement,” noting that “we are working with Hamas and Israel on the steps to implement the ceasefire agreement.”
He added that the agreement will enter into force next Sunday and the hour of its implementation will be determined later, noting that the first phase of the agreement is 42 days and will witness a ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces to the borders of the Gaza Strip, the exchange of prisoners and hostages according to a specific mechanism, the exchange of the remains of the deceased, the return of the displaced to their areas of residence, and facilitating their departure. This will also allow for the sick and wounded to receive treatment.
