Supporters of Israeli hostages kidnapped in a deadly Hamas attack on October 7, 2023 react to news of ceasefire talks in Gaza during a protest in Tel Aviv, Israel, demanding a deal to bring all hostages home.
Ronan Zwillen | Reuters
The two sides reached a ceasefire and hostage agreement Israel This marks a key breakthrough in ties with Hamas, NBC News reports 15 months of bloody war That has cause damage and heightened tensions the whole area.
Israeli officials were briefed on the talks Transaction confirmed NBC News. The long-awaited agreement was reached after separate meetings between Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani and Hamas negotiators and Israeli negotiators.
News of the deal sparked joyful demonstrations on the streets of Israel and Gaza late Wednesday.
These developments come ahead of the president-elect’s inauguration Donald Trump January 20 – The date many consider to be the de facto mediation deadline after the president-elect vows that there will be a “heavy price” unless Hamas releases Israeli hostages upon taking office.
“We have a deal on the hostages in the Middle East. They will be released soon,” Trump wrote on his social media platform, The Truth Society.
Palestinians await news of a ceasefire agreement with Israel in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on January 15, 2025.
Muhammad Salem | Reuters
Qatari mediators on Monday presented a final draft of the agreement to representatives from both sides, including the head of Israel’s spy agency Mossad. According to Reuters, Hamas officials said progress had been made on some core issues and conclusions would be reached “soon.”
two presidential envoys Joe Biden and Trump attended the negotiations. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the proposed deal was based on a framework proposed by the Biden administration in May.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar thanked U.S. officials for their work in promoting the ceasefire. According to Reuters, Sa’ar told the media on Monday that the deal “looks much better than before,” adding: “I want to thank our American friends for their great efforts in reaching the hostage deal.”
Steve Witkoff, Trump’s chosen special envoy to the Middle East, has also traveled to Qatar and Israel several times for talks since taking office.
Blinken called Vitkov’s participation “critical” and stressed the importance of ensuring Trump’s continued support for the deal after he takes office.
Over the past few months, Hamas and Israeli officials have broadly agreed to a ceasefire in exchange for the release of Israeli hostages held by the militant group in Gaza.
Demonstrators hold up placards in front of the Israeli Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv, January 14, 2025, calling for action to ensure the security of civilians in Gaza since October 2023, amid the ongoing war between Israel and the militant Hamas Israelis held hostage were released.
Jake Guess | AFP | Getty Images
But the enduring sticking point remains Hamas’s demand that a full release of the hostages must lead to a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and an end to the war, while Israeli leaders believe the Gaza operation must continue until Hamas is disbanded.
Hamas planned and led the attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed approximately 1,200 people and took 253 hostages. About 116 of those prisoners have now been released.
The October attack triggered the ensuing Israel-Hamas war and Israel’s relentless military offensive in the Gaza Strip, which Palestinian health authorities say has killed more than 46,000 people and destroyed much of the blockaded territory.
This is a developing story, please check back for updates.
