A three-stage ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas was brokered in mid-January after months-long efforts by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar to mediate between the warring parties. The first stage of the ceasefire agreement foresees the release of 33 Israeli hostages held in Gaza in exchange for 1,904 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons, while the Israeli military is to withdraw from densely populated areas of the Gaza Strip.