Media reported the signing of an agreement between Israel and Hamas on a cease-fire in Gaza

Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement have signed a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, Al Arabiya TV reported on January 16, citing sources.

"All sides signed the agreement," the report said.

According to the interlocutors of the channel, final edits were made to the document. It is noted that the deal was on the verge of failure, but helped the intervention of mediators, and after overcoming the differences, the Israeli delegation left the Qatari capital Doha.

According to the reports, it was also agreed that Israel would reduce strikes on the Gaza Strip from the evening of Friday, January 17, and Hamas demands for high-ranking hostages were postponed to the second phase of the implementation of the agreement.

An Israeli delegation is expected to travel to Cairo tomorrow to coordinate the implementation of the deal.

Cease-fire: How the agreement between Israel and Hamas will change the situation in the Middle East

In the first phase, 33 captives are to be released - will this be a step towards a settlement

The Gaza ceasefire agreement became known the day before. It was reported that it would begin on January 19, and in the first phase of 42 days should be released 33 Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

The next day, Al Jazeera TV reported that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a massive strike on the Gaza Strip, and at least 30 Palestinians were killed as a result. Later, the Israeli prime minister's office accused Hamas of backing out of part of the agreements and blackmail attempts. In turn, representatives of the movement said that the IDF struck the place where one of the hostages was.

The situation in the Middle East escalated on the morning of October 7, 2023, when the Palestinian radical movement Hamas subjected the territory of Israel to a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. On the same day, Israel began retaliatory strikes.