Contents of the Ceasefire Agreement between Hamas and the Israeli Regime
The ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement between Hamas and the Israeli regime, Wednesday night includes three stages with the aim of ending the war in Gaza.
The Zionist regime, after one year and three months of waging a brutal war, and failing to achieve its goals of liberating its soldiers through a ground attack, crushing Hamas resistance, and eliminating the Gaza Strip's military capability to use rockets, was finally forced to sign a ceasefire agreement with Hamas on Wednesday (15/1/2025) evening.
The agreement includes three stages, and will come into effect on Sunday (19/1). Below is the content of the prisoner exchange agreement and permanent ceasefire which are the general principles of the Israeli and Palestinian agreements in Gaza,
All Israeli prisoners, whether alive or dead, will be released by the Palestinian Resistance, in return Israel agrees to release some of the Palestinian prisoners, as agreed. The exchange of prisoners will take place on the day of the ceasefire, a day designated in the agreement as Day One.
The Israeli regime and Hamas in the agreement stated their readiness to implement a ceasefire with four goals: a permanent ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, the reconstruction of Gaza, and the reopening of crossings and facilitating the transportation of people and goods.
The contents of the agreement according to the three stages of the ceasefire are as follows,
First Stage (42 Days)
A temporary cessation of military operations by both parties, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces, eastward from densely populated areas along the entire border of the Gaza Strip, including Wadi Gaza (Netzarim Corridor).
Temporary suspension of air traffic (military and surveillance) in the Gaza Strip for 10 hours every day, and 12 hours on days when prisoner exchanges are carried out.
The return of refugees to their homes, and exit from Wadi Gaza.
On the seventh day (after the release of seven Israeli prisoners), the Zionist Regime forces completely withdrew from the Al Rashid coastal highway, eastward to the Salahuddin highway.
Israel is committed to the total destruction of all its military bases and facilities in the region, and thus the return of refugees to their homes (without carrying weapons) will begin.
Freedom of movement of people throughout the Gaza Strip, without restrictions, and the entry of humanitarian aid will be carried out from the first day without restrictions.
On the 22nd day, Israeli forces will withdraw from central Gaza (especially from the Netzarim Corridor east of Salahuddin Highway, to the areas along the border), and military bases and facilities will be completely destroyed.
From the first day, humanitarian aid will be permitted (600 trucks daily including 50 fuel trucks, 300 of which are for the northern Gaza Strip). This includes fuel needed to operate the power plant, trade and construction equipment needed for lifting rubble, reconstruction and re-operation of hospitals.
Prisoner exchange:
Hamas will release 33 Israeli prisoners (non-military women and soldiers), children (under 19 and non-soldiers), adults (over 50), sick and wounded civilians.
In return, Israel will release a number of Palestinian prisoners. Taking into account the list of names submitted by Hamas, based on their priority of arrest, Israel will release 30 Palestinian women and children, for every woman or child released by Hamas.
Likewise, based on the list of names submitted by Hamas according to their arrest priority, for every elderly and sick Zionist released by Hamas, Israel must release 30 elderly and sick Palestinian prisoners (whose remaining detention period is 15 years).
For every female Israeli soldier Hamas releases, the Zionist regime must release 50 Palestinian prisoners (30 prisoners serving life sentences, and 20 others serving sentences of up to 15 years).
This process includes the lists of names submitted by Hamas, except for the agreed list. The number of Palestinian prisoners (at least 100) will be discussed in the second stage. The number of those who have been released, and those who have been exiled abroad or Gaza.
Captive exchange mechanism at the first stage:
On the first day, Hamas will release three Israeli civilians, and on the seventh day, four more civilians. After that, Hamas will release three Israeli prisoners every seven days, starting with female prisoners.
It was decided that all living Israeli prisoners would be released before the dead prisoners, and Hamas, in the sixth week, would release all remaining Israeli prisoners at this stage for every number of Palestinian prisoners released from Israeli jails as agreed. These releases would be carried out simultaneously, and based on lists of names submitted by Hamas.
Until the seventh day, Hamas will provide information regarding the number of Israeli prisoners who will be released at this stage.
Israel in the sixth week (after the release of Hisham Al Sayed and Avera Mengistu, who joined 33 Israeli prisoners) will release 47 prisoners who were recaptured after their release, under the Shalit agreement (the name of the Israeli prisoner of war).
If the number of Israeli prisoners still alive and planned to be released at this stage does not reach 33, then by returning the bodies of this category, the number will be even, and otherwise Israel, in the sixth week, will release all women and children (under 19 years of age and not combatants) captured after October 7, 2023 in the Gaza Strip.
Israel committed not to re-arrest the released Palestinians on these charges, and not to return them to serve the remainder of their sentences. It also agreed that the released Palestinians would not be required to sign any documents as a condition of their release.
Both parties agreed that the opening of the above prisoner exchange would not be the basis for opening the exchange in the second phase.
Up to the 16th day, indirect negotiations between the two parties to reach an agreement on the terms of the second phase, especially issues related to the opening of the prisoner exchange, will begin. Negotiations until the end of the fifth week of this phase will be refined and agreed upon.
The UN, its agencies and other organizations will continue humanitarian services throughout the Gaza Strip. The reconstruction of infrastructure (electricity, water, sewage, communications and roads) throughout Gaza, and the import of necessary equipment for civil defense as agreed (relief distribution services) will begin.
Opening up opportunities for the entry of logistics and equipment to accommodate refugees who lost their homes due to war. At least 60,000 caravans, and 200,000 tents.
After all Israeli female soldiers are released, the number of Hamas wounded will be determined so that they can be sent to the Rafah crossing for treatment. In addition, the number of travelers, patients, and wounded through the Rafah crossing will increase, and travel restrictions will be lifted, and the transportation of goods and trade will begin.
The supervision and planning required for the total reconstruction of homes, civilian facilities and civilian infrastructure damaged during the war, and support for victims supervised by a number of countries and organizations such as Egypt, Qatar and the UN, will begin.
All steps at this stage, namely the military ceasefire, will continue even in the second stage, as long as negotiations regarding the prerequisites for its implementation take place.
The agreement states that Qatar, the United States and Egypt will make every effort to ensure the continuation of indirect negotiations as long as both parties are able to reach an agreement regarding the terms of the second phase.
Second Stage (42 Days)
A permanent ceasefire (a cessation of military operations and regular acts of aggression) was declared, and began before the prisoner exchange. The agreement stated, “We are talking here about all remaining living Israeli prisoners, for the release of a number of Palestinian prisoners in Israel. At this stage the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces, from the Gaza Strip, will take place.”
Stage Three (42 Days)
The exchange of all bodies from both sides will take place after the location and identification is determined. The implementation of the 3-5 year reconstruction project of Gaza, which includes housing, urban facilities, civil infrastructure, and support for victims will begin under the supervision of countries and organizations including Egypt, Qatar, and the UN. Reopening of border crossings, and facilitating the transportation of people and goods.
