A ceasefire agreement has been reached between Israel and Hamas, more than 15 months after the start of the conflict.
Qatar’s prime minister is expected to speak about the Doha deal soon, a Qatari official told ABC News.
People react to reports of a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal during a rally demanding the return of hostages in the Gaza Strip on January 15, 2025 in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Amir Levy/Getty Images
According to the Hamas delegation in Doha, Hamas agreed to the terms, a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip, including the Philadelphia corridor, in stages, and the handing over of 33 Israeli prisoners, dead and alive, in exchange for their release. 1,000 Palestinian prisoners. Negotiations for the release of the remaining hostages would be completed in stages, according to the Hamas delegation.
The Israeli prime minister’s office said in a statement that the issue of forces in the Philadelphia corridor had been resolved, although there were some “unresolved clauses” in the agreement, which they hope to finalize on Wednesday night.
The provisions also include the opening of the Rafah crossing, according to the Hamas delegation. Coordination is currently underway to open the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing to allow international aid to enter Gaza, an Egyptian security source told ABC News.
A Palestinian reacts as he and others await news of a ceasefire deal with Israel in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, on January 15, 2025.
Hatem Khaled/Reuters
President Joe Biden is expected to speak about the deal.
President-elect Donald Trump also said a hostage deal had been reached, writing in a Truth Social post: “WE HAVE A DEAL MIDDLE EAST GUYS. THEY WILL BE RELEASED SOON. THANK YOU!”
Trump hailed the so-called “EPIC” cease-fire agreement, saying it “could only have happened because of our Historic Victory in November.” His special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, said he would continue to work closely with Israel and US allies to “make sure Gaza does not become a terrorist safe haven again.”
The families of the seven American hostages in Gaza said they were “deeply grateful” that a deal had been reached to release the hostages in stages.
“The coming days and weeks will be as painful for our families as the terrible experiences of our loved ones,” the families said in a statement. “Therefore, we urge all parties to remain committed to this agreement until it is fully implemented at all stages and everyone is returned. We feel hopeful that under President Trump’s leadership, every last hostage will be returned home.”
A new round of ceasefire negotiations began on January 3rd in Qatar. Delegations from both Israel and Hamas were sent to Doha to resume negotiations, which were mediated by Qatari and Egyptian mediators. The Biden administration also helped steer the talks.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters the US wanted a cease-fire agreement in Gaza and the release of all other captives before Trump takes office on January 20.
Blinken announced on January 6 “strong commitment” including by Hamas to a deal, although “we still don’t see an agreement on the final points.”
“We need to make the final decisions necessary to complete the deal with Hamas and get the hostages out, the people of Gaza, giving them relief, and creating an opportunity for the entire region to fundamentally change the hostage situation. Move forward to something better, safer for everyone involved,” Blinken said. then
An Israeli army flare is seen in the Gaza Strip from Sderot, southern Israel, on January 6, 2025.
Tsafrir Abayov/AP
The agreement comes after Israel and Hezbollah reached a cease-fire agreement in November, weeks after Israel invaded southern Lebanon in an escalation of its conflict with Hezbollah.
It also follows last year’s high-profile assassinations of Hamas leaders Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar — Sinwar was one of the main architects of the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel — as well as Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Israel has taken responsibility for his death.
People search for their belongings amid the rubble of a building destroyed by an Israeli airstrike in the Bureij camp for Palestinian refugees in central Gaza on January 6, 2025, amid the war between Israel and the militant group Hamas.
Eyad Baba/AFP via Getty Images
In more than a year of war between Israel and Hamas, more than 46,000 people have been killed in Gaza and nearly 110,000 injured, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry. This figure does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. However, more than 14,000 children and 8,000 women have died, according to the Ministry of Health.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said more than 15,000 fighters have been killed during the war, which was sparked by an unprecedented terrorist attack by Hamas in southern Israel on October 7, 2023. More than 1,200 people were killed and another 253 were taken hostage, according to Israeli authorities.
During the week-long ceasefire between Hamas and Israel at the end of November 2023, Hamas released more than 100 people. In exchange, Israel released more than 200 Palestinians from Israeli prisons. Several hostages have also been released in Gaza in the following months, and the bodies of others have been recovered.
As of the renewed negotiations in early January, 94 hostages remained in Gaza, including 34 confirmed dead, according to Israeli authorities.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
