Israel and Hamas have agreed to a 42-day ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza, President Biden and other leaders announced on Wednesday (15), raising hopes that a 15-month war that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and destroyed much of the enclave could soon come to an end.
The ceasefire is set to take effect on Sunday, January 19, said Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, the mediating country. He added, however, that both sides were still working to finalize some logistical issues.
Al Thani also stated that the first phase of the ceasefire agreement includes the withdrawal of Israeli forces to the east, away from populated areas. About 33 hostages will be released over the course of 42 days.
It is believed that around 100 hostages are still in Gaza, although Israeli authorities believe that about 35 of them are dead.
Biden said that, in addition to the release of hostages, Palestinians could return to their homes and receive a wave of humanitarian supplies. “Many innocent people have died; many communities have been destroyed,” he said in a speech at the White House. “In this agreement, the people of Gaza can finally recover and rebuild.”
Hamas confirmed the ceasefire agreement in a statement on Telegram, calling it a “victory for our people” and praising the “legendary resilience” of Gaza residents in the face of war.
President-elect Donald Trump also announced that a deal had been reached, writing on social media that “THEY (the hostages) WILL BE RELEASED SOON.” Trump promised severe consequences if Israel and Hamas did not reach an agreement before his inauguration on January 20. Some officials believe that the pressure from the new president may have helped advance the negotiations.
Why did Trump want a ceasefire agreement in the Middle East before taking office?
In this way, Trump removes one of the most serious international conflicts looming over the start of his second term. Furthermore, the victory confirms Trump’s position as a “negotiator,” which he will surely claim credit for as an early win—even if it happened before he took office.
The agreement is not much different from what President Biden sought in May. But several people with knowledge of the process said that Trump’s victory in November, along with the involvement of members of his new administration, were key pieces in moving the ceasefire forward.
Source: The New York Times