A ceasefire and hostage deal was reached between Israel and Hamas on January 15, bringing an end to almost two years of deadly conflict in the Gaza Strip.
The New York Times reports that the Israeli cabinet still has to ratify the deal as some key details are being negotiated.
Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, spoke at a news conference in Doha, Qatari confirming the ceasefire.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Hamas had a “last-minute demand” that must be addressed before the deal is official. “We hope that the details will be closed tonight,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement.
President Joe Biden also shared in a statement, “Today, after many months of intensive diplomacy by the United States, along with Egypt and Qatar, Israel and Hamas have reached a ceasefire and hostage deal,” he said. “This deal will halt the fighting in Gaza, surge much-needed humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians and reunite the hostages with their families after more than 15 months in captivity.”
Today, after many months of intensive diplomacy by the United States, along with Egypt and Qatar, Israel and Hamas have reached a ceasefire and hostage deal.
My diplomacy never ceased in their efforts to get this done – I will speak more about this soon. pic.twitter.com/iETWhGXEGA
— President Biden (@POTUS) January 15, 2025
The statement from the White House went on to say, “Even as we welcome this news, we remember all the families whose loved ones were killed in Hamas’ October 7 attack, and the many innocent people killed in the war that followed. It is long past time for the fighting to end and the work of building peace and security to begin. I am also thinking of the American families, three of whom have living hostages in Gaza and four awaiting the return of remains after what has been the most horrible ordeal imaginable. Under this deal, we are determined to bring all of them home.” Some consider the ceasefire a major accomplishment for the outgoing Biden administration.
Upon hearing the news of the ceasefire, Palestinians celebrated in the streets of Gaza. “I am happy, yes, I am crying, but those are tears of joy,” said Ghada, a displaced mother of five.
In Tel Aviv, the families of Israeli hostages and their friends also expressed their excitement about the ceasefire. “We, the families of 98 hostages, welcome with overwhelming joy and relief the agreement to bring our loved ones home,” the hostage families’ group said in a statement.
Since Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, the two have been engaged in intense battle. More than 46,000 people have been killed, with hundreds of thousands displaced throughout the region.
