The News
Israel and Hamas agreed to a temporary ceasefire deal, multiple outlets said Wednesday, a move that US President Joe Biden hailed as the result of months of “intensive diplomacy.”
“Today, after many months of intensive diplomacy by the United States, along with Egypt and Qatar, Israel and Hamas have reached a ceasefire and hostage deal. This deal will halt the fighting in Gaza, surge much needed-humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians, and reunite the hostages with their families after more than 15 months in captivity,” he said in a statement.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office earlier said the details of an agreement were still being finalized. The reported agreement will put a pause on 15 months of intense fighting between the Palestinian militant group and Israeli forces after Hamas launched a terrorist attack on Israel, killing more than 1,200 people and taking 251 hostage on Oct. 7, 2023. Since then, more than 46,000 people have died and more than 1.9 million people have been displaced in Gaza.
The breakthrough in negotiations in Doha came just days before Biden leaves the White House and Donald Trump is inaugurated. Trump posted on social media following the reports that a deal to return hostages had been reached and they would “be returned shortly.”
The deal still needs to be approved by a vote in the Israeli cabinet, though it is unclear when this meeting is scheduled to take place.
Know More
Speculation had been mounting since Egyptian, US, and Qatari negotiators announced Tuesday that approval for a final draft was close at hand. Outgoing US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said earlier on Wednesday that a truce could come “at any time.”
Exact details of the ceasefire deal are yet to be announced, but it will likely see a six-week initial pause in fighting, as well as the return of the remaining hostages by Hamas in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners in Israel, Reuters reported. A roadmap for a post-war Gaza is expected to come later.