ISTANBUL

Qatar’s prime minister and minister of foreign affairs said late Wednesday that mediators were successful in reaching a cease-fire agreement in the Gaza Strip, noting that its implementation will begin this Sunday.

Palestinians gathered in Gaza to celebrate following US President-elect Donald Trump's announcement of a hostage deal ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/1AdrPxZo70

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During a press conference held in the capital Doha, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said the first phase of the agreement will last 42 days and include the release of 33 Israeli detainees in exchange for an unspecified number of Palestinian prisoners.

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The stage also facilitates the distribution of humanitarian aid across Gaza, including the rehabilitation of hospitals, health centers and bakeries, he added.

It also ensures the return of displaced residents to their homes and allows injured and sick people to seek medical treatment abroad.

Al Thani emphasized the need for cooperation, saying that “guaranteeing the agreement's success requires a commitment from both parties and sustained efforts from mediators.”

He noted that Qatar, Egypt and the US “will work to ensure the implementation of the agreement” with mechanisms in place to monitor its execution and address any potential violations.

He expressed his hope that “no military operations would be conducted during the period leading up to the implementation of the agreement.”

Al Thani said the second phase of the agreement aims to “establish lasting calm by halting all military operations and hostilities permanently, paving the way for stability for all parties.”

Details of this phase will be announced following the successful completion of the first phase, he added.

The Palestinian group Hamas welcomed the cease-fire, calling it “a victory for the resilience of the Palestinian people and their steadfast resistance.”

It expressed gratitude to the mediators, particularly Qatar and Egypt, for their pivotal roles in reaching the agreement.

As news of the deal spread, celebrations erupted across Gaza, the West Bank and Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon and Jordan. International and Arab leaders have also praised the agreement, expressing hope for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

The announcement comes on day 467 of Israel's genocide against Gaza, which with US backing has killed and wounded more than 156,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children.

The war has left more than 11,000 people missing, with widespread destruction and a humanitarian crisis that has claimed the lives of many elderly people and children in one of the worst global humanitarian disasters in recent times.