After more than 15 months of intense fighting, Israel and Hamas have agreed to pause the devastating war, mediators announced on Wednesday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the ceasefire but noted that the final details were still being worked out.
Key Points of the Agreement
- A three-phase ceasefire plan has been brokered, aiming to facilitate the release of dozens of hostages held by Palestinian militants and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners detained in Israeli jails.
- The agreement will also allow hundreds of thousands of displaced people in Gaza to return to their homes, offering a glimmer of hope amid the ongoing crisis.
The war was triggered by a cross-border attack from Hamas on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 people in Israel and the abduction of 250 others. Israel retaliated with a massive military offensive, which, according to local health officials, has claimed the lives of more than 46,000 Palestinians.
While the announcement of the ceasefire brought some relief to the families of hostages on both sides, fighting continued on the ground. The Hamas-run Civil Defence agency reported that Israeli airstrikes killed at least 20 people in Gaza, including 12 in a residential block in Gaza City’s Sheikh Radwan neighborhood.
Israel, which has launched a campaign to dismantle Hamas, considers the group a terrorist organization, as do the US and other nations.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has worsened, with more than 2.3 million people displaced, widespread destruction, and shortages of essential supplies. According to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, more than 46,700 people have died since the war began.
As of now, 94 hostages remain in Hamas’s captivity, with 34 presumed dead. Additionally, four Israelis were abducted before the conflict, two of whom are confirmed dead.
While there is hope that the ceasefire could provide some respite, the situation remains fragile, and the world watches as final agreements are finalized.
এনেধৰণৰ অন্যান্য বা-বাতৰিৰ বাবে লাইক কৰক অসম লাইভ ২৪ ৰ ফেচবুক পেজ
