Israel-Hamas have been given a 3-month plan on how the ceasefire agreement is expected to pan out successfully. If they both abide by the rules, it will possibly see a return of peace to the war-torn region.
The agreement spread over three months will see the influx of humanitarian aid to Gaza, withdrawal of Israeli forces and captive exchange between the two parties.
The agreement, which is expected to be implemented in three phases starting on Sunday, was approved by the Hamas group on Wednesday.
However, the agreement is yet to be approved by Israeli Prime Minister Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who blames Hamas for a “last-minute crisis”. Netanyahu’s far-right allies have refused to back the deal. But reports by Al Jazeera state that the delays are a result of the internal political conflict within Netanyahu’s coalition government.
The agreement, brokered by Qatar, Egypt and the United States, also talks about post-war reconstruction efforts in the Palestinian enclave, where more than 60 percent of buildings have been destroyed and damaged in the nonstop Israeli bombardment since October 7, 2023.
According to Al Jazeera, here’s the timeline for the ceasefire agreement
January 19 (Day 1)
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani announced on Wednesday that the deal will take effect from Sunday, when the first Israeli captives are expected to be released and guns will fall silent.
The agreement stipulates that about 600 humanitarian aid trucks will be allowed into the Strip on a daily basis. But Israel has a very prolonged history of violations regarding commitment to ceasefire agreements.
Read also: Israel, Hamas reach ceasefire agreement meant to end 15-month Gaza war, official says
January 25 (Day 7)
On day seven, internally displaced Palestinians will be allowed to return to northern Gaza, which has been under a deadly military siege since October, without carrying arms and without inspection via al-Rashid Street.
Cars and any non-pedestrian traffic will be allowed to return north of the Netzarim Corridor, which divides Gaza between north and south, after vehicle inspection which will be performed by a private company to be decided by mediators in coordination with the Israeli side.
February 3 (Day 16)
No later than day 16 after the start of the ceasefire, the parties agreed to start negotiating the second phase.
February 9 (Day 22)
On day 22, civilians will be allowed to return north from both al-Rashid Street and Salah al-Din Street without inspection.
March 1 (Day 42)
This marks the end of phase one. By this date, 33 Israeli captives should have been released in exchange for 100 Palestinian prisoners.
It is also the start of phase two if things move according to plan. This includes the release of the remaining captives which are believed to number 65. In exchange, Israel is committed to withdraw from Gaza and respect a permanent ceasefire.
Over all, up to 94 Israeli captives, dead or alive, will be freed in exchange for more than 1,000 Palestinians. It’s believed nearly 30 captives out of 94 are dead.
Israeli forces should also begin their withdrawal from the Philadelphi Corridor, which separates Gaza from Egypt.
Israel though has insisted that no written guarantees be given to rule out the resumption of hostilities. Hamas was reportedly given verbal guarantees by Egypt, Qatar and the US that negotiations would continue.
March 9 (Day 50)
By this date, Israel should have completed the full withdrawal of its forces from the Philadelphi Corridor.
April 12 (Day 84)
This is when the third phase should start. Details are still unclear. Should the conditions of the second stage be met, this is when bodies of the remaining captives should be handed over in return for a three- to five-year reconstruction plan to be carried out under international supervision.
There is currently no agreement over who will administer Gaza beyond the ceasefire. The US has pressed for a reformed version of the Palestinian Authority to do so.
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