JP says Netanyahu's office confirmed signing the Gaza deal

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that representatives of Israel, the Palestinian movement Hamas, the United States and Qatar have officially signed an agreement on a ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza. This was reported by the Israeli newspaper The Jerusalim Post on January 17, citing the Prime Minister's Office.

"Representatives of Israel, Hamas, the US and Qatar officially signed an agreement on hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza in Doha, the Prime Minister's Office confirmed," the newspaper said in its piece.

It is specified that Netanyahu is to convene the political and security cabinet soon, and after that a cabinet meeting will be held in Israel to discuss the further plan of action on Gaza and its details.

In addition, the Israeli government is due to vote on a new bill, and as such, the release of the first three hostages will be delayed until January 20, the publication specified.

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

Earlier in the day, the Axios portal reported that representatives of Israel, the Palestinian movement Hamas, the US and Qatar officially signed an agreement on a ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza. According to the portal, Hamas representatives requested that several names of people be substituted in the hostage release clause. The Palestinian movement demanded to add to the list of life prisoners for planning and organizing terrorist attacks.

The ceasefire agreement in Gaza became known on January 15. It is expected to take effect on January 19. In the first phase lasting 42 days, 33 Israeli hostages are to be released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

The next day, the Israeli Defense Ministry and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) began preparations to implement the agreement. It was reported that the Department of Design and Construction and the Defense Ministry's Directorate of Checkpoints would be involved in expediting the logistics of implementing the deal.

Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a massive strike on the Gaza Strip, killing at least 30 Palestinians. 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 had struck the place where one of the hostages was.

In response, the leader of the movement "Ansar Allah" Abdel Malik al-Husi said that the Houthis will continue to attack Israel until a complete ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the entry into force of the truce. And if Israel fails to comply with the agreement, they will resume attacks again. According to him, at the moment the Palestinian issue is not solved.

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 massive rocket fire from the Gaza Strip. On the same day, Israel began retaliatory strikes.