Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 05:54am on 18 Jan 2025,Saturday International
Israel and Hamas have agreed to a 42-day ceasefire starting January 19, mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the US. The deal includes the release of 33 hostages, including women, children, and elderly, and 737 Palestinian detainees. Israeli forces will withdraw from Gaza’s densely populated areas but maintain an 800-meter buffer zone inside Gaza. Hostages will undergo medical evaluations before being transported to Israeli hospitals. Negotiations for a second phase of the truce will begin on the 16th day, aiming for a permanent end to the conflict. Outgoing US President Joe Biden praised the agreement as a crucial step toward peace.
