Israel, Hamas reach deal meant to end Gaza war, free hostages and prisoners
PARIS, January 15, 2025 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Negotiators reached a phased deal on Wednesday to end the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, an official briefed on the negotiations said, after 15 months of bloodshed that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and inflamed the Middle East.
The complex accord, which has not yet been formally announced, outlines a six-week initial ceasefire phase and includes the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip and release of hostages taken by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, the official told Reuters.
U.S. President Joe Biden later confirmed a deal had been struck, and the prime minister of Qatar, one of the key mediators, said the ceasefire take effect on Jan. 19.
Palestinians celebrated in streets across Israeli – besieged Gaza – where they have faced an acute humanitarian crisis with severe shortages of food, water and fuel – as explosions from new Israeli air strikes continues.
“I am happy, yes, I am crying, but those are tears of joy”, said Ghada, a displaced mother of five.
“We are being reborn. With every hour of delay Israel conducted a new massacre. I hope it is all over now”.
In Israel, the return of the hostages may ease some of the public anger against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his right – wing government over the oct.7, 2023 Hamas attack that led to the deadliest single day in the country’s history.
Netanyahu’s office said Hamas had dropped a last-minute demand and there were still a number of unresolved items in the deal. “We hope that the details will be closed tonight” it said in a statement.
Hamas, Gaza’s dominant Palestinian militant group, told Reuters its delegation had handed mediators its approval for the ceasefire agreement and return of hostages.
The road ahead is complex, with political minefields likely.
Phase one of the deal entails the release of 33 Israeli hostages, including all women children and men over 50.
Negotiations on implementing the second phase will begin by the 16th day of phase one and it is expected to include the release of all remaining hostages, a permanent ceasefire and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
The third stage is expected to address the return of all remaining dead bodies and the start of Gaza’s reconstruction supervised by Egypt, Qatar and the United Nations.
The pact follows months of tortuous, on – off negotiations conducted by Egyptian and Qatari mediators, with the backing of the United States, and comes just ahead of the Jan. 20 inauguration of U.S. President – elect Donald Trump.