Pause of Human Suffering
Israel and Palestine Agree to Ceasefire
After 15 months of intense war, Israel and Hamas officials signed a ceasefire deal on Jan. 16. The deal went into effect on Jan. 19, freeing Israeli hostages from Palestinian captivity and Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails. The first exchange of hostages and prisoners included women and children. Both parties will continue the release of individuals in the following weeks as they extend the negotiation.
The rough outline of the deal includes three stages. The first stage is intended to be a complete ceasefire—releasing several civilians, reducing weapon uses and expanding health support—and is expected to last six weeks. The second stage plans to release remaining civilians, including males, in exchange of Palestinian prisoners and remove all troops from Gaza. The third stage will return the remains of dead individuals and rebuild Gaza, which will take years. Despite many unresolved details, the ceasefire deal has added hope for peace among Israelis and Palestinians who were both affected by the historical tragedy.
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