After 460 days of relentless attacks by Zionist Israel on Gaza and brave armed resistance by Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and other Palestinian groups, the two sides have come into a ceasefire agreement. The Qatar government, which served as mediator to the talks alongside US and Egypt, announced the decision on January 16. The first phase of the agreement will take effect on January 18.

In a statement, Hamas praised the resolute and honorable resistance of the Palestinian people that forced Israel to agree to a ceasefire to stop the genocidal war in the Gaza Strip.

“The agreement to end the aggression on Gaza is a victory for our people, our resistance, and the free people of the world,” the group said. It called the agreement “pivotal” to the struggle, and that it paves the way for the liberation and return of the Palestinian people to their territories.

Heroism of the Palestinian people

Hamas thanked all the support for their resistance overseas, from Arab, Islamic, and other peoples, and all those who helped expose and oppose Israel’s occupation and aggression.

Al-Qassam Brigades spokesman Abu Obeida praised the Palestinian fighters for their “unwavering and steadfast resistance” in the face of Israeli and US brutality. He wished peace for all martyred fighters, innocent children killed by the enemy, and all oppressed and persecuted by the Zionist state.

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PLFP), one of the groups involved in the negotiations, along with Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, issued a similar statement.

“On this day, our people and their movement will implement an agreement to stop the aggression, begin the withdrawal of Israeli forces and carry out the exchange of detainees,” according to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

When the genocidal war began, Zionist state prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel would not back down from its aggression until it achieved “absolute victory.”

The Palestinians frustrated Israel’s plan to expel them and crush their desire to be free from Israeli occupation and aggression, according to the groups.

“They humiliated the enemy, shattered their arrogance and inflicted continuous damage that cannot be hidden in the midst of brutal aggression, conspiracies and betrayal,” according to the Palestinian Mujahideen Movement, an armed group inside Gaza. It called Israel a “Zionist Nazi,” supported by the “criminal US administration and other forces of evil.”

The agreement’s three phases

The signed agreement has three phases. The first will feature an immediate cessation of fighting and the release by Hamas of 33 Israelis in its custody (children, women and elderly aged 50 and above) in exchange for Israel’s release of up to 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, most after October 7, 2023. This phase obligates Israel to withdraw from Gaza population centers and allow the entry of much-needed aid to Palestinian families.

In the second phase, Israel will completely withdraw from Gaza and in the third phase, the reconstruction of the territory it pulverized will begin. All details of the second and third phases will be subject to negotiation during the first phase, which is estimated to last six weeks.

Democratic and progressive organizations around the world welcomed the ceasefire.

“This ceasefire is a victory for the Palestinian people who have endured the most horrific, brutal, and blatantly racist genocidal violence for more than a year,” the International League of Peoples’ Struggles (ILPS) stated on January 16.

“This was not achieved because of any goodwill on the part of the Zionists or their imperialist, fascist funders,” it said. The agreement was reached because of Israel’s military failures and isolation from the international community.

“The ILPS celebrates this victory of the people despite knowing that it does not end the Zionist occupation and genocidal war,” it said. In fact, Israel continues to bombard Gaza even after the agreement was announced on January 16.

As of January 17, Israel has killed 46,788 Palestinians in its genocidal war on Gaza. This number includes 18,000 children. There are 110,265 wounded, of which 25% are seriously injured. This includes 101 killed and 264 wounded since the ceasefire agreement was announced. More than 90% of Gaza’s population has been displaced from their homes.