Qatar PM and Minister of Foreign Affairs confirms Gaza ceasefire

Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani announced that the joint mediation efforts of Qatar, Egypt and the United States secured a Gaza ceasefire and prisoner swap deal between Hamas and Israel.

In a press conference on Wednesday, the Prime Minister stated that the deal will take effect on Sunday, January 19, 2025 and according to this deal Hamas will release 33 hostages, in exchange of Palestinian prisoners, with both negotiating parties agreeing to continue working tonight to complete the implementation details.

In a statement by the Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani explained that the Gaza ceasefire deal stipulates the exchange of prisoners and hostages and the restoration of sustainable calm, ultimately achieving a permanent ceasefire between the two parties.

The deal also includes intensifying the safe and effective entry and distribution of humanitarian aid on a large scale throughout the Gaza Strip, the rehabilitation of hospitals, health centers, and bakeries, as well as the entry of civil defense supplies and fuel, and bringing in shelter supplies for displaced persons who lost their homes due to the war.

Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs @MBA_AlThani_: With faith and commitment, we have reached this moment. Together with our partners, we will ensure the implementation of this agreement. A joint follow-up mechanism between Qatar, Egypt, and the US will monitor… pic.twitter.com/fHrB0j3SIT

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Qatar (@MofaQatar_EN) January 15, 2025

Under the deal, Hamas will release 33 Israeli detainees in the first phase, including civilian women, female soldiers, children, the elderly, and sick and wounded civilians. In exchange, a number of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons and detention centers will be released. The second and third phases will be finalised during the implementation of the first phase.

"For 411 days, meetings have continued with our partners and the two parties to the conflict until we reached this long-awaited moment," the PM said, adding: "But this is just the beginning. The responsibility now rests with the parties, supported by the mediators and the international community, to navigate toward the shores of peace. This will be the focus of our efforts in the next phase." The Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs extended his thanks to all regional and international partners for their support throughout the process until this deal was reached.

To prevent any violations Qatar, Egypt and the US will agree upon a follow-up mechanism in Cairo and teams representing the three countries will monitor the implementation of the agreement. He added there would be a mechanism that reports potential violations.