New Delhi Welcomes Hostage Release and Gaza Ceasefire Agreement

January 16, 2025: New Delhi: India has expressed its support for the recently announced agreement facilitating the release of hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza. In a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the spokesperson said:

“We welcome the announcement of the agreement for the release of hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza. We hope this will lead to a safe and sustained supply of humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza. We have consistently called for the release of all hostages, ceasefire, and a return to a path of dialogue and diplomacy.”

The ceasefire agreement, brokered by Qatar and the United States, marks a major step following 15 months of conflict between Israel and Hamas. The agreement says that the hostages held by Hamas will be released in phases, beginning with 33 women, children, and elderly individuals, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. The ceasefire is set to begin on Sunday, January 19, pending Israeli cabinet approval.

US President Joe Biden commended the agreement, emphasizing its potential to halt hostilities, provide humanitarian relief to Gaza's civilians, and reunite hostages with their families.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed cautious optimism, thanking Biden and Trump for their role in advancing the negotiations while noting that final details were still being ironed out.

Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya described the agreement as a testament to Palestinian "resilience." Celebrations erupted across Gaza, with residents waving flags and cheering the announcement.

Despite the ceasefire announcement, violence in Gaza persisted. Israeli airstrikes reportedly killed more than 20 people in the Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood of Gaza City, according to the Hamas-run Civil Defence agency.

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza remains awful. Since the conflict escalated in October 2023, over 46,700 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza's health ministry. 2.3 million residents of Gaza face widespread displacement, food shortages, and lack of medical supplies.

Three-Phase Plan for Peace

The ceasefire agreement will be implemented in three steps A tentative roadmap for the same has been laid out:

Phase One: Initial release of hostages and Palestinian prisoners, withdrawal of Israeli forces from densely populated areas, and the facilitation of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Phase Two: Negotiations for the release of remaining hostages, complete Israeli troop withdrawal, and a move toward sustained peace.

Phase Three: Reconstruction of Gaza and the return of hostages’ bodies, a process expected to take years.

Qatar, the US, and Egypt played pivotal roles in brokering the agreement. Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani urged both sides to remain calm as the first phase begins and expressed hope that this marks the end of hostilities.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for prioritizing the alleviation of civilian suffering, emphasizing the need for continued international cooperation to ensure peace.

While the deal offers hope, challenges remain, including opposition within Netanyahu's far-right coalition and the complex process of rebuilding Gaza. Yet, as celebrations continue in both Gaza and Israel, the agreement is a step forward for resolving one of the region’s most protracted conflicts.