Israel and Hamas agree to Gaza ceasefire, hostage deal

Israel and Hamas reached an agreement on Wednesday for a ceasefire and the release of hostages, a major advance in their 15 month warthat has he did the destruction and inflamed tensions throughout the region.

An Israeli official briefed on the talks confirmed the deal at NBC News. The long-awaited agreement followed the meeting of Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani with Hamas negotiators and, separately, with Israeli negotiators.

“I’ve just been informed by the administration that a deal has been agreed to,” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, R-N.Y., said on the Senate floor Wednesday. “A ceasefire is good news for Israel, for America, for the Palestinian people, and especially for the hostage families who have waited so long in agony.”

The news of the agreement prompted joyous demonstrations in the streets of Israel and Gaza late Wednesday local time.

The developments come ahead of the inauguration of the president-elect Donald Trump January 20 – a date seen by many as a deadline for mediation, after the president-elect promised there would be “hell to pay” unless Hamas released Israeli hostages by the time he entered office in his place.

“We have a deal for the hostages in the Middle East. They will be released soon,” wrote Trump on his social platform, Truth Social.

Mediators in Qatar presented the final draft of the agreement on Monday to representatives of both sides, including the heads of Israel’s spy agency, Mossad.

Sent for the two president Joe Biden and Trump were present at the last round of negotiations. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the proposed agreement is based on a framework the Biden administration presented in May.

Trump’s choice for Secretary of State, Senator Marco Rubio, was a testament to that Senate confirmation hearing when news of the deal broke Wednesday. He noted the involvement of Trump’s pick for Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, in discussions held since Witkoff was announced.

“All involved deserve credit for the ceasefire that the [Senate committee] The president just announced,” Rubio said. “But Steve Witkoff has been a critical component of it, and he’s been involved in it from day one.”

Witkoff is not yet an official US government official, and will assume the position only after Trump is sworn in on January 20.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar thanked American officials for their work to push for a ceasefire. The deal “looks much better than before,” Saar told media on Monday, Reuters reported, adding: “I want to thank our American friends for the enormous efforts they are investing to secure a hostage deal.”

Witkoff has also traveled several times to Qatar and Israel to participate in discussions since being given the role.

Blinken described Witkoff’s involvement as “critical,” emphasizing the importance of making sure Trump continues to support the deal once in office.

In recent months, both Hamas and Israeli officials have largely agreed to a ceasefire in exchange for the release of Israeli hostages held by the Gaza-based militant group.

But the persistent sticking point remained Hamas’ demand that a full release of the hostages must result in a full Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza and an end to the war, while Israeli leaders have said the Gaza campaign must continue until Hamas is dismantled.

Hamas planned and led the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel that killed approximately 1,200 people and took another 253 hostages. About 116 of those prisoners have since been released.

The October attack sparked the Israel-Hamas war and the relentless Israeli military offensive in the Gaza Strip that 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.