Israel and Hamas reach deal for Gaza cease-fire and hostage exchange
This picture taken from the Israeli side of the border with the Gaza Strip shows smoke plumes rising from explosions above destroyed buildings in the northern Gaza Strip on January 14, 2025, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. (AFP Photo)
Israel and Hamas have agreed to a deal for Gaza cease-fire and exchange Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, according to multiple officials on Wednesday.
This breakthrough follows months of fluctuating negotiations, mediated by Egypt and Qatar with U.S. backing, and comes just ahead of the Jan. 20 inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.
Meanwhile, a U.S. official confirmed the Gaza cease-fire deal, which aligns with efforts from President Joe Biden’s administration to secure an agreement before Trump’s return to the White House.
‘We have a deal,’ Trump says
Additionally, Trump announced a deal has been reached for hostages in Gaza amid reports.
“We have a deal for the hostages in the Middle East. They will be released shortly,” Trump posted on social meadi platform Truth Social.
Hamas submits official response to mediators
Earlier, the Palestinian resistance group Hamas said that it has officially responded to a proposed cease-fire agreement with Israel.
“Hamas leadership has just delivered its response to the cease-fire proposal to the mediators (Egypt and Qatar),” the group said in a statement.
Israel currently holds more than 11,000 Palestinian prisoners, while it is estimated that 98 Israelis are detained in Gaza. Hamas has stated that several Israeli captives were killed in indiscriminate Israeli airstrikes.
Israel’s war on Gaza, which began after a Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023, has resulted in over 46,700 deaths, the majority of whom are women and children. This has continued despite a U.N. Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire.
In November 2024, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel is also facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice related to its actions in the enclave.
