Negotiators from Israel and Hamas have agreed to a cease-fire in Gaza after more than 15 months of devastating war, officials said Wednesday.
The Qatari prime minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, whose country helped mediate the talks, said the deal would achieve the release of hostages and prisoners, and a return to “sustainable calm.”
Under the deal, the cease-fire would begin on Sunday, Jan. 19, he said, adding that both sides were still working on resolving some of the logistical matters.
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What’s in the agreement?
The cease-fire’s first phase, which would last six weeks, would see Israeli forces withdraw to the east of Gaza, away from populated areas. Hostages would start being released during that phase, said officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the deal.
President Biden said that during the first phrase of the agreement, Palestinians would be able to return to their neighborhoods in all areas of Gaza, much of which has been leveled, and would have access to a surge of humanitarian supplies.
Who will be freed?
If implemented, the cease-fire would allow for the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners in Israel. About 100 hostages are thought to still be in Gaza, although the Israeli authorities believe around 35 of those people are dead.
Hamas leaders want to free Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.
Mr. Al Thani said some 33 Israeli hostages would be released over the course of the 42-day agreement, but he did not say how many Palestinian prisoners would be released.
What happens next?
The agreement needs to be formally ratified by the Israeli government, two senior Israeli officials said.
The office of Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, said in a statement that a number of details in the agreement remained unresolved, but that it was hoped that they would be worked out on Wednesday night.
The ratification votes in Israel are expected on Thursday morning and are likely to test the government’s unity, as at least two hard-line factions have already announced their opposition to striking a deal with Hamas.
Why did talks move forward?
The talks have also gained momentum since Israel reached a separate cease-fire agreement with the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, which began firing rockets into Israel immediately after the Hamas-led attack of October 2023. Battered badly by its escalating conflict with Israel, Hezbollah agreed to a cease-fire with Israel in November, a deal that helped isolate Hamas.
Some officials have suggested that the change in U.S. administrations, set to take place on Monday, Jan. 20, put pressure on Israel and Hamas to accelerate their decision-making after months of delay.
The incoming U.S. president, Donald J. Trump, has warned that there will be “all hell to pay” unless the Israeli hostages are freed by the time he takes office. Steve Witkoff, his pick for Middle East envoy, has also made trips to Qatar and Israel.
On Wednesday, Mr. Trump wrote on social media: “WE HAVE A DEAL FOR THE HOSTAGES IN THE MIDDLE EAST. THEY WILL BE RELEASED SHORTLY. THANK YOU!”
At a news conference, President Biden seemed to acknowledge that his administration has worked with the Trump administration. He noted that although the deal was developed and negotiated under his administration, its terms would be implemented for the most part by the next administration. “In these past few days, we’ve been speaking as one team,” he said.
