Ceasefire in Gaza; Hamas agrees to 60-day deal, hostages will be handed over

GAZA CITY: It has been reported that Hamas has agreed to a ceasefire deal in Gaza. According to the BBC, the agreement is for a 60-day ceasefire. Al Jazeera also reported that Hamas has agreed to the ceasefire and that the hostages will be released in two phases. The understanding on the ceasefire came after mediation talks involving Qatar, Egypt and the United Nations.

It was ithe nternational news agency AFP that first reported the development. Hamas sources, who did not want to be named, told AFP that the group accepted the proposed ceasefire agreement without asking for any changes. Clashes between Israel and Hamas have been ongoing for the past two years.

According to The National, Hamas has in principle agreed to the Egypt-Qatar proposal for a 60-day ceasefire, after which 10 Israeli hostages held by Hamas will be released. Reports also say Hamas has agreed to hand over the remains of 18 hostages who died while in captivity.