Ceasefire in Gaza

Israel and Hamas likely to agree on ceasefire

According to the agreement, which has not yet been officially announced by the two sides, Hamas will initially release 33 Israeli hostages, according to insiders. These include all the women, children and men over 50 who are being held.

(Bild: Krone KREATIV/APA/AFP/David GANNON ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Israel and the radical Islamic Palestinian organization Hamas reached an agreement on Wednesday for a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict. In addition, US President-elect Donald Trump announced an agreement on the "hostages in the Middle East". "They will be released soon", he announced on Wednesday.

The Israeli government hopes to be able to resolve the final issues with Hamas regarding a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip today. The mediator Qatar confirmed the agreement between Israel and the radical Islamic Hamas. The ceasefire is to begin on January 19, according to Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. That is Sunday - one day before US President-elect Donald Trump takes the oath of office.

Trump: "Epic agreement"
 In a further message on Truth Social, Trump spoke of an "epic agreement on a ceasefire". His national security team would continue to work closely with Israel and US allies on the basis of the agreement to ensure that the Gaza Strip would never again become a safe haven for terrorists. "We will continue to work for peace through strength throughout the region," Trump wrote.

An electronic billboard in Tel Aviv: US President-elect Donald Trump refers to his threat to unleash hell if the hostages held in Gaza are not released by the time of his inauguration.

(Bild: ASSOCIATED PRESS)

According to the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, last-minute demands made by Hamas were successfully rejected by Israel's head of government. There are "still several unresolved clauses in the draft and we hope that the details will be finalized this evening", the statement said.

According to an insider, the agreement between Israel and Hamas provides for an initial six-week ceasefire. 

Initially 33 hostages will be released
According to the agreement, which has not yet been officially announced by the two sides, Hamas will initially release 33 Israeli hostages, according to the insider. Hamas will release female hostages - civilians and soldiers - and minors under the age of 19 first, followed by men over the age of 50. Israel will release 30 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli custody for every civilian hostage. For every female Israeli soldier held by Hamas, 50 Palestinian prisoners would be released. In total, the extremists are holding around 100 hostages in the Gaza Strip.

According to the as yet unofficial agreement between Hamas and Israel, 600 truckloads of aid are to be delivered to the Gaza Strip every day. 300 trucks are earmarked for the north of the Gaza Strip. Fuel is also to be brought to the largely destroyed coastal strip.

Palestinians rejoice
Meanwhile, celebrations broke out in the Gaza Strip. According to eyewitnesses, tens of thousands of cheering people poured onto the streets. Footage circulating on Palestinian and social media shows people singing and dancing. Men can also be seen apparently weeping with joy.