TEL AVIV — A ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas has been reached after 15 months of devastating war that has seen tens of thousands of people killed in Gaza, left scores of Israeli hostages in painful limbo, and changed the face of the Middle East.
The truce, announced Wednesday, is expected to stop the Israeli bombardment of Gaza Strip that has killed more than 46,500 people, according to local health officials. It will also see the phased release of dozens of hostages captured during the Oct. 7 2023 terror attack still being held in Gaza, as well as the release of hundreds of Palestinians detained by Israel.
Hundreds of trucks of desperately needed aid are also expected to start entering the enclave every day once the ceasefire comes into force.
Here’s what we know so far about the three-phase deal:
What happens first?
The agreement outlines a roughly six-week initial ceasefire phase that could begin as early as the end of the week, a diplomatic source in Washington told NBC News.
Before the deal can get underway, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will have to get approval from his security Cabinet and his full Cabinet. Israel’s Supreme Court would have 24 hours to permit an appeal.
The earliest a ceasefire could go into effect would be Friday, the diplomatic source said, though the truce is expected to begin Sunday if Netanyahu’s security Cabinet and the full government Cabinet give the go ahead.
It is unclear when the Israeli Cabinet will convene, however, with Netanyahu’s office on Thursday reporting a delay, accusing Hamas of reneging on part of the deal and creating a “last-minute crisis.”
The Directorate of Abductees, Returnees and Missing Persons in the Prime Minister’s Office said in a separate statement Thursday that Hamas had added demands that “contradict the agreement” with mediators.
In an interview with Saudi state-owned television channel Al Arabiya, Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri denied that, saying there was “no basis” for claims the group had “backed down from the terms of the ceasefire agreement.”
