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| What we know about the Gaza ceasefire deal | What we know about the Gaza ceasefire deal |
| (6 days later) | |
| Israeli soldier Liri Albag was reunited with her family after being freed during the second hostage release | Israeli soldier Liri Albag was reunited with her family after being freed during the second hostage release |
| A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is under way after 15 months of war. | A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is under way after 15 months of war. |
| The deal aims to bring a permanent end to the fighting and free hostages held by Hamas in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. | The deal aims to bring a permanent end to the fighting and free hostages held by Hamas in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. |
| Getting to this point took months of painstaking indirect negotiations, and the timetable and complexity of the deal mean even a small incident could escalate and threaten to derail the ceasefire. | Getting to this point took months of painstaking indirect negotiations, and the timetable and complexity of the deal mean even a small incident could escalate and threaten to derail the ceasefire. |
| About 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken back to Gaza as hostages when Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October 2023. | About 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken back to Gaza as hostages when Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October 2023. |
| This triggered a massive Israeli military offensive in Gaza, which has killed more than 47,000 Palestinians, the Hamas-run health ministry says. | This triggered a massive Israeli military offensive in Gaza, which has killed more than 47,000 Palestinians, the Hamas-run health ministry says. |
| How does the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas work? | How does the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas work? |
| The ceasefire was announced on 15 January and began four days later, after months of negotiations led by the US, Qatar and Egypt. It is based on a proposal set out by former US President Joe Biden in May 2024. The deal will be carried out in three stages: | The ceasefire was announced on 15 January and began four days later, after months of negotiations led by the US, Qatar and Egypt. It is based on a proposal set out by former US President Joe Biden in May 2024. The deal will be carried out in three stages: |
| Stage one | Stage one |
| This will last 42 days, during which: | This will last 42 days, during which: |
| There will be a complete ceasefire | There will be a complete ceasefire |
| Hamas will release a total of 33 hostages - women (including female soldiers), children, some older men and the sick - at regular intervals | Hamas will release a total of 33 hostages - women (including female soldiers), children, some older men and the sick - at regular intervals |
| Israel will release about 1,900 Palestinian prisoners | Israel will release about 1,900 Palestinian prisoners |
| Israeli forces will leave populated areas | Israeli forces will leave populated areas |
| Displaced Palestinian civilians will be allowed to return to their neighbourhoods | Displaced Palestinian civilians will be allowed to return to their neighbourhoods |
| Hundreds of aid lorries will be allowed into Gaza each day | Hundreds of aid lorries will be allowed into Gaza each day |
| Israeli troops will remain in Gaza's border areas, including the southern Philadelphi Corridor, but will leave the Netzarim Corridor, a military zone cutting off the north of Gaza from the south | Israeli troops will remain in Gaza's border areas, including the southern Philadelphi Corridor, but will leave the Netzarim Corridor, a military zone cutting off the north of Gaza from the south |
| Stage two | Stage two |
| Sixteen days after the start of stage one, negotiations will begin on the second stage, during which: | Sixteen days after the start of stage one, negotiations will begin on the second stage, during which: |
| A permanent ceasefire will be established | A permanent ceasefire will be established |
| Remaining living hostages in Gaza will be exchanged for more Palestinian prisoners | Remaining living hostages in Gaza will be exchanged for more Palestinian prisoners |
| Israeli forces will make a complete withdrawal | Israeli forces will make a complete withdrawal |
| Stage three | Stage three |
| The final part of the agreement will see: | The final part of the agreement will see: |
| The return of all remaining bodies of dead hostages | The return of all remaining bodies of dead hostages |
| The reconstruction of Gaza, which is expected to take years | The reconstruction of Gaza, which is expected to take years |
| How are hostages held by Hamas being released? | How are hostages held by Hamas being released? |
| The deal includes the release of the remaining hostages taken in October 2023, in addition to three Israelis who were abducted before the war. Israel says Hamas is holding 55 hostages who are alive and 35 who are dead. | The deal includes the release of the remaining hostages taken in October 2023, in addition to three Israelis who were abducted before the war. Israel says Hamas is holding 55 hostages who are alive and 35 who are dead. |
| Eighteen hostages - including female Israeli soldiers, male and female Israeli civilians, and Thai nationals - have so far been freed. | |
| They were released by Hamas in stage-managed events in different locations in Gaza, where they were handed over to the Red Cross. | |
| The Red Cross then transferred them to Israeli forces inside Gaza, before they were driven across the border into Israel and reunited with their families. The freed hostages were then flown to hospitals for medical checks. | The Red Cross then transferred them to Israeli forces inside Gaza, before they were driven across the border into Israel and reunited with their families. The freed hostages were then flown to hospitals for medical checks. |
| BBC Verify: What we can tell from Hamas hostage handover video | BBC Verify: What we can tell from Hamas hostage handover video |
| Who are the released and rescued hostages? | Who are the released and rescued hostages? |
| How historic deal was sealed with 10 minutes to spare | How historic deal was sealed with 10 minutes to spare |
| Who are the Palestinian prisoners being freed by Israel? | Who are the Palestinian prisoners being freed by Israel? |
| Around 1,900 Palestinian prisoners and detainees from Gaza are due to be released in the first phase of the deal. It is not known exactly how many prisoners will be exchanged each time hostages are released. | Around 1,900 Palestinian prisoners and detainees from Gaza are due to be released in the first phase of the deal. It is not known exactly how many prisoners will be exchanged each time hostages are released. |
| So far, 583 prisoners have been released. | |
| Many of those released in the first exchange, and some in the following three exchanges, had never been charged and were detained without trial in Israeli prisons under what is called "administrative detention", a process widely criticised by human rights groups. | |
| Others had been found guilty of serious crimes, including being convicted by Israeli courts of multiple murders. A number had been serving life sentences. | |
| The released prisoners have returned to the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, and in some cases, Gaza. Dozens were deported due to the gravity of their crimes. | |
| Israel has insisted that no-one who was involved in the 7 October attacks will be freed. | Israel has insisted that no-one who was involved in the 7 October attacks will be freed. |
| Prisoners will be returned to the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza, and some will be deported | Prisoners will be returned to the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza, and some will be deported |
| The prisoners are among more than 10,000 Palestinians held by Israel (not including detainees from Gaza held by the Israeli military) who have either been convicted, or are suspected of "security" offences. | The prisoners are among more than 10,000 Palestinians held by Israel (not including detainees from Gaza held by the Israeli military) who have either been convicted, or are suspected of "security" offences. |
| These range from bombings and other attacks, to belonging to banned armed groups. | These range from bombings and other attacks, to belonging to banned armed groups. |
| More than 3,000 people are reported to be held under administrative detention. | More than 3,000 people are reported to be held under administrative detention. |
| Freed Palestinian prisoner welcomes ceasefire deal | Freed Palestinian prisoner welcomes ceasefire deal |
| How will aid be delivered to Gaza and can people return home? | How will aid be delivered to Gaza and can people return home? |
| Under the deal, 600 lorries of aid - 50 carrying fuel - are to be allowed into Gaza every day. This number was met or exceeded on the first three days of the ceasefire. | Under the deal, 600 lorries of aid - 50 carrying fuel - are to be allowed into Gaza every day. This number was met or exceeded on the first three days of the ceasefire. |
| Half of the lorries will go to the north of Gaza, where aid has been hardest to deliver and food security experts have been warning of imminent famine for months in areas that were besieged by Israeli forces. | Half of the lorries will go to the north of Gaza, where aid has been hardest to deliver and food security experts have been warning of imminent famine for months in areas that were besieged by Israeli forces. |
| By comparison, the UN says an average of 90 lorries a day entered Gaza in December 2024. | By comparison, the UN says an average of 90 lorries a day entered Gaza in December 2024. |
| About 500 lorries were allowed into the territory every day before the start of the war. | About 500 lorries were allowed into the territory every day before the start of the war. |
| Gaza is home to an estimated 2.3 million Palestinians, almost all of whom have had to leave their homes as Israel has carried out continuous strikes across the territory and issued mass evacuation orders for large residential areas. | Gaza is home to an estimated 2.3 million Palestinians, almost all of whom have had to leave their homes as Israel has carried out continuous strikes across the territory and issued mass evacuation orders for large residential areas. |
| Hundreds of thousands of Gazans have begun returning home, but in many cases there is nothing to go back to, with whole streets and neighbourhoods standing in ruin. | Hundreds of thousands of Gazans have begun returning home, but in many cases there is nothing to go back to, with whole streets and neighbourhoods standing in ruin. |
| Some 60% to 70% of buildings are estimated to have been damaged or destroyed. | Some 60% to 70% of buildings are estimated to have been damaged or destroyed. |
| The process is also fraught with danger, with Israeli and Hamas forces at tense standoff, risks of unexploded ordnance, and warnings from the Israeli military to civilians to stay clear of military positions. | The process is also fraught with danger, with Israeli and Hamas forces at tense standoff, risks of unexploded ordnance, and warnings from the Israeli military to civilians to stay clear of military positions. |
| All those who were forced by Israel to leave the north are being allowed go back via specific routes, with those in vehicles required to pass through a screening process. | All those who were forced by Israel to leave the north are being allowed go back via specific routes, with those in vehicles required to pass through a screening process. |
| Rebuilding Gaza will be a monumental task. Halfway through the war, the UN estimated that at that point reconstruction could cost $40bn (£33bn). It is something which is likely to take years, if not decades. | Rebuilding Gaza will be a monumental task. Halfway through the war, the UN estimated that at that point reconstruction could cost $40bn (£33bn). It is something which is likely to take years, if not decades. |
| The human cost of the conflict will also be felt for many years to come, with tens of thousands wounded and left with complex psychological damage. | The human cost of the conflict will also be felt for many years to come, with tens of thousands wounded and left with complex psychological damage. |