Qatar Announces Ceasefire Between Hamas and Israel to Start at 8:30 a.m. Sunday, Exchanging 33 Hostages for 737 Prisoners

Jan 18, 2025, 03:37 PM

A ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, mediated by Qatar, is set to go into effect on Sunday at 8:30 a.m. local time in Gaza, which is 0630 GMT. This agreement aims to pause the 15-month conflict, marking a step toward ending the deadliest and most destructive fighting between the two sides. The ceasefire's first phase will last 42 days, during which 33 hostages held in Gaza are scheduled to be released over six weeks in exchange for 737 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. The exchange is set to begin at 4 p.m. local time on Sunday. Israeli troops are expected to pull back into a buffer zone inside Gaza, allowing displaced Palestinians to return to their homes. Additionally, the ceasefire will facilitate a surge in humanitarian aid to the region, with preparations underway at the Rafah border crossing to deliver aid and evacuate wounded patients.