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Middle East

Gaza ceasefire agreement announced after Doha talks; hostage releases to begin Thursday

The Qatar- and Egypt-brokered deal, approved by the Israeli cabinet 14 to 7, would pause fighting for 42 days and free 33 hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

Credit...Mietje Germonpré

A Gaza ceasefire agreement was announced in Doha early Thursday morning following more than 30 hours of continuous negotiations, with Qatar's prime minister making the formal announcement at 4 a.m. local time alongside Egypt's intelligence chief and United States envoy Steve Witkoff. 'An agreement has been reached. It will hold,' the Qatari prime minister said.

The agreement provides for a 42-day ceasefire beginning Thursday at 6 a.m., the release of 33 hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, and a staged withdrawal of Israeli forces. Israel's cabinet approved the deal by a vote of 14 to 7. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the agreement as 'painful but necessary.' Hamas confirmed its acceptance in writing.

The United Nations Secretary-General issued a statement welcoming the agreement within 20 minutes of the announcement in Doha.

Families of the hostages were notified of the agreement by an Israeli government official at 3 a.m. local time, ahead of the public announcement. The Israeli government's decision to inform families before the news became public was noted by observers as a deliberate protocol choice.

The deal was brokered through months of mediation led by Qatar and Egypt, with active participation from the United States. Negotiators had faced repeated breakdowns before reaching the agreement announced Thursday.