Ceasefire between Israel, Hamas to go into effect Sunday morning, Qatar says

According to the Qatari Foreign Ministry, the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel is scheduled to come into force on Sunday at 8:30 a.m. local time.

Qatar’s Foreign Minister Majid al-Ansari urged people to exercise caution and wait for instructions from officials as the ceasefire takes effect. This is the second ceasefire reached during the war.

Israel’s Cabinet agreed early Saturday morning to a ceasefire agreement in Gaza that would include the release of dozens of hostages and a pause in the war with Hamas that began after the terror group’s attack on the Jewish state on Oct. 7, 2023.

The deal would allow for the release of 33 hostages over the next six weeks in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians being detained by Israel. The remaining hostages are to be released in a second phase, negotiated as part of the first.

What you should know about the hostages and the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, which is set to begin on Sunday

A girl pauses in front of a mural depicting Israeli soldiers held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip in Tel Aviv, Israel, Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. In Hebrew it says, “Look into their eyes.” (AP)

Hamas has said it will not release the remaining hostages without a permanent ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal.

But questions remain about the ceasefire, including the identities of the 33 hostages set to be released in the first, six-week phase and which of them are still alive.

Hamas agreed to release three female hostages on the first day of the deal, four on the seventh day and the remaining 26 over the next five weeks.

Israel’s Justice Ministry has published a list of more than 700 Palestinian prisoners set to be released in the first phase of the deal. The Justice Ministry said the release would not begin until Sunday at 4 p.m. local time.

Muslim women display a placard while riding motorcycles during a rally to celebrate the announcement of the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Jakarta, Indonesia. (AP)

This is the second ceasefire reached during the war.

The Israel Defense Forces also announced Saturday morning that its air force had intercepted a missile started from Yemenshortly before the expected ceasefire.

Gaza is expected to receive a surge in humanitarian aid. Trucks carrying aid supplies were seen lined up on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing into Gaza on Friday.

Ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, agreement reached to release hostages: “Americans will be involved”

People gather to celebrate a long-awaited ceasefire that would end fighting in the Gaza Strip, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, in Paris. (AP)

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The 15 month War in Gaza began when Hamas launched a surprise attack against Israel on October 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people and kidnapping about 250 others, prompting military retaliation from the Israeli Defense Forces. Nearly 100 hostages remain trapped in Gaza.

More than 46,000 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli offensive, according to local health authorities in the Hamas-led government, which make no distinction between civilians and terrorists.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.