Ending a deadly conflict of more than 15 months, Israel and Hamas a ceasefire agreement on Wednesday, which includes the release of captives held by both parties.
The agreement was announced in Doha, Qatar, following months of negotiations between Israel and Hamas mediated by US, Egyptian and Qatari facilitators.
Among other provisions of the ceasefire, the Hamas delegation agreed to release dead and alive Israeli hostages in Gaza in exchange for the release of 1,000 Palestinian prisoners.
The agreement will begin on Sunday, January 19 and will be expanded in stages. The first phase of the six-week deal would include the release of 33 Israeli hostages, as well as an unspecified number of 1,000 Palestinian prisoners.
Demonstrators announce a ceasefire deal and hug during a protest calling for the release of hostages in Gaza, in Tel Aviv, January 15, 2025.
Avishag Shaar-yashuv/The New York Times/Redux
Two more phases would follow to finalize the terms of the agreement, according to the Hamas delegation.
Israeli officials said their government’s cabinet will meet on Thursday to approve the deal.
President Joe Biden released a statement after the cease-fire announcement outlining how the release of American citizens held by Hamas would be included in the cease-fire agreement.
“This agreement will end the fighting in Gaza, increase much-needed humanitarian aid for Palestinian civilians and reunite hostages with their families after more than 15 months in captivity,” Biden said in a statement.
Biden said he is determined to bring home seven American hostages, three of whom he believes are alive.
The American-Israeli veterans who may be included in the cease-fire release agreement include Sagui Dekel-Chen, 36, Keith Siegel, 65, and Edan Alexander, 20.
Obtained by ABC News | Abducted Families Forum
The identities of the hostages being released by Hamas and Israel have not yet been made public. However, ahead of Wednesday’s deal, Hamas said it was willing to hand over at least two of the seven American citizens the group is holding: Sagui Dekel-Chen, 36, and Keith Siegel, 65. American hostage Edan Alexander, 20, may also be the third hostage included in the deal.
Itay Chen, 19, Omer Neutra, 22, and Judith Weinstein, 70, and Gadi Haggai, 73, are among the dead American hostages and their bodies believed to be still with Hamas.
Since the conflict began when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, the militant group has taken a total of 251 hostages, according to Israeli authorities, and 94 remain in Gaza. Of the 94, at least 34 are dead, according to officials.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
