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Israel and Hamas have tentatively agreed to a ceasefire agreement, mediators announced Wednesday, pausing a devastating 15-month conflict in the Gaza Strip and increase the ability to pull off the deadliest and most destructive fights between the bitter enemies.
The deal, which comes after weeks of painful negotiations in the Qatari capital, promises the release of dozens of hostages held by Hamas, the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israel and would allow hundreds of thousands of people displaced in Gaza to return to what remains of their homes. It would also flood badly needed humanitarian aid into a devastated area.
Three officials from the US and one from Hamas confirmed that an agreement had been reached, while a senior Israeli official said details were still being ironed out.
All three US officials requested anonymity to discuss the contours of the deal before the official announcement by mediators in Doha.
President Joe Biden was poised to address the breakthrough agreement later Thursday, officials said.
The agreement still needs to be approved by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet, but it is expected to take effect in the coming days.
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The Israeli government will vote on a Gaza ceasefire on Thursday, a government official told Reuters.
The deal is expected to provide an initial six-week halt to fighting that will be accompanied by the opening of negotiations on ending the war completely.
In six weeks, 33 of the nearly 100 hostages will be reunited with their loved ones after months in captivity without contact with the outside world, although it is unclear if all are alive.
It remained unclear exactly when and how many displaced Palestinians would be able to return to what remains of their homes and whether the agreement would lead to a complete end to the conflict and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza – key Hamas demands for the release of the remaining prisoners.
Many longer-term questions about Gaza remain, including who will govern the territory or oversee the daunting task of reconstruction.
Still, the announcement offered the first sign of hope in months that Israel and Hamas could end the deadliest and most destructive war they have ever fought, a conflict that has destabilized the wider Middle East and sparked global protests.
Hamas sparked the conflict with its border attack on October 7, 2023, which killed about 1,200 Israelis and took 250 others hostage. Israel responded with a fierce offensive that has killed more than 46,000 Palestinians, according to Hamas health officials, displaced an estimated 90% of the population of Gaza and caused a humanitarian crisis.
More than 100 hostages were freed from Gaza in November 2023 during a week-long ceasefire.
& copy 2025 The Canadian Press
