Ceasefire Agreement Reached Between Israel and Hamas
In a pivotal turn of events, Israel and Hamas have come to a ceasefire agreement that will pause hostilities in Gaza for six weeks. This truce is set to facilitate the release of hostages held by Hamas and Palestinian prisoners, as confirmed by President Joe Biden during a press conference on Wednesday afternoon.
Accompanied by Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Biden revealed that Hamas, alongside its militant partners, is expected to free 33 hostages taken during the violent events of October 7, 2023. The first group of hostages is likely to include women, children, and elderly individuals who have been imprisoned for over a year but are still alive.
The initial phase of this agreement mandates not only a complete cessation of hostilities but also the withdrawal of Israeli forces from heavily populated areas in Gaza. This phase is also set to include the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
Biden explained that the second phase will focus on securing the release of the remaining hostages, including male soldiers, and ensure the full withdrawal of Israeli troops from the region.
“Today is a very promising day,” Biden stated, recognizing the challenges that were overcome to achieve this agreement.
He also noted that his administration worked closely with advisors from the previous Trump administration to finalize the deal. “The implementation will largely depend on the next administration,” Biden added. “In recent days, we have functioned as a unified team.”
As the news of the ceasefire began to spread on Wednesday morning, President-elect Donald Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to express his views, declaring, “WE HAVE A DEAL FOR THE HOSTAGES IN THE MIDDLE EAST. THEY WILL BE RELEASED SHORTLY. THANK YOU!”
Hamas has indicated plans to release three hostages on the first day of the ceasefire, followed by an additional four on the seventh day, according to reports from the Associated Press. Subsequent releases are expected to occur weekly, with the initial group of 33 hostages including five female Israeli soldiers, each of whom will be exchanged for 50 Palestinian detainees, including 30 militants serving life sentences.
Earlier on Wednesday, Biden attributed the success of the negotiations to a combination of factors, including “intense pressure on Hamas,” the “reduced influence of Iran” in the region, and “consistent and thorough American diplomacy.”
This announcement comes in the wake of troubling reports from UNICEF, which revealed that at least 74 children have lost their lives in the Gaza Strip during the first week of 2025.
“Children have tragically been killed in multiple mass casualty incidents, especially during nighttime strikes in Gaza City, Khan Younis, and Al Mawasi, a designated ‘safe zone’ in the southern area,” UNICEF reported. “The most recent incident occurred yesterday, resulting in the deaths of five children in Al Mawasi.”
Biden also mentioned that the third phase of the agreement will focus on a “comprehensive reconstruction initiative” for Gaza and ensuring the return of any remains of hostages who have died.
However, some Israeli officials have cautioned that the finer details of the agreement are still being worked out, as indicated by statements from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.
