Israel and Hamas reached a ceasefire and hostage release agreement to end more than a year of conflict. fighting in the Gaza StripPresident Biden and the Prime Minister of Qatar announced Wednesday. The agreement comes after a week of intense negotiations mediated by Qatar, the United States and Egypt.
“Today, after several months of intensive diplomacy by the United States, Egypt and Qatar, Israel and Hamas reached a ceasefire and hostage-taking agreement,” Mr. Biden said in a written statement. “This agreement will end the fighting in Gaza, increase much-needed humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians and reunite hostages with their families after more than 15 months of captivity.”
Speaking from the White House on Wednesday afternoon, Mr. Biden said: “There was no other way for this war to end than with a hostage agreement, and I am deeply satisfied that this day has finally arrived, for the good of the people of Israel. , and for the families who wait in agony, and for the sake of the innocent people of Gaza who have suffered unimaginable devastation because of the war.
He added that Americans would be among the hostages released in the first phase of the deal, “and the vice president and I look forward to welcoming them home.”
When news of the deal broke, crowds gathered in Deir al Bala, Gaza, and celebratory gunfire was heard.
“I’m extremely happy,” a young Palestinian woman from the Gaza town of Khan Younis told CBS News. “In the last 15 months I have experienced tears, laughter, martyrs lost and people gone to prison, but ultimately I feel joy.”
Hatem Khaled / REUTERS
The ceasefire takes effect on Sunday and Israeli airstrikes continued to take place in Gaza City and Khan Younis after the news broke.
The families of American hostages still held in Gaza reacted and expressed their relief at the announcement of an agreement.
“We are deeply grateful that there is finally an agreement between Israel and Hamas to bring our loved ones – Omer, Edan, Sagui, Itay, Keith, Gad and Judi – home,” the families said in a statement. “We have waited 467 days for our family members to suffer life-threatening injuries, abuse, torture and sexual violence. We thank President Biden, President-elect Trump and their teams for their constructive efforts to make this possible .”
A draft agreement had been accepted in principle Earlier in the week, Arab, U.S. and Israeli officials told CBS News. It sets out a progressive framework for a ceasefire and the exchange of hostages still held by Hamas for a larger number of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. This also includes access for humanitarian aid to Gaza and the possible possibility for Palestinians in Gaza to return to the areas they fled.
Intense negotiations were underway in Doha in recent weeks, with President Biden’s top Middle East adviser, Brett McGurk, remaining in the region for nearly a month. McGurk worked in close coordination with President-elect Donald Trump’s choice for special Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff. Mr. Biden spoke by telephone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday about the negotiations.
In Israel, the families of the hundred hostages still held after the brutal Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which saw the group and its allied militants kill around 1,200 people, regularly hold rallies to demand a negotiated deal to Hamas. release of their loved ones. The Israeli military estimates that around a third of the hostages are already dead.
Amir Lévy / Getty Images
More than 46,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed in Israeli strikes since the start of the war, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, and most of Gaza’s population is displaced and living in camps. Humanitarian groups have been struggling to provide helpand experts warned of starvation.
What does the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas contain?
Details of the deal appear to be based on an arrangement outlined by Mr. Biden last year.
According to a draft from mediating sources seen by CBS News earlier this week, the project would consist of three phases, each lasting approximately 42 days.
In the first phase, Hamas would release 33 female and child hostages, as well as hostages over the age of 50, according to the draft seen by CBS News. For every woman or child hostage returned to Israel, Israel would release 30 Palestinian women and children from its prisons. Hamas would release all hostages over the age of 50 and Israel would release 30 Palestinian prisoners aged 50 or over.
A senior Israeli official told CBS News that the release of Israel’s hostages would begin on the first day of a 42-day ceasefire period.
On the first day, Hamas would release three hostages, according to the plan seen by CBS News. On the seventh day, Hamas would release four hostages. Thereafter, Hamas would release three hostages taken in Israel every seven days, starting with the living, then returning the bodies of those who died.
During the exchange of hostages and prisoners, there would be a complete ceasefire in Gaza to allow the entry of aid, says the draft seen by CBS News. International humanitarian groups and the United Nations would resume operations in Gaza and begin rebuilding the enclave’s infrastructure, such as water, electricity and sewage systems.
The second phase of the deal would involve the release of all remaining Israeli hostages and the withdrawal of IDF forces from Gaza, according to the document seen by CBS News.
The third phase would include the exchange of bodies of hostages and prisoners, the start of the reconstruction of Gaza and the opening of its borders.
Trump responds to ceasefire agreement and hostage release
In his remarks, Mr. Biden noted that the agreement will largely be implemented after his successor, President-elect Donald Trump, takes office.
“This agreement was developed and negotiated under my administration, but its terms will be implemented, substantially, by the next administration,” the president said. “For the past few days, we have been speaking as one team.”
Trump posted the news of the ceasefire agreement and hostage taking on social media.
“This EPIC ceasefire agreement could only have happened following our historic victory in November, as it signaled to the world that my administration would pursue peace and negotiate agreements to ensure the security of all Americans and our Allies.” Trump wrote. “I am pleased that the American and Israeli hostages are returning home to their families and loved ones.”
Trump said his special Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, would continue to work closely with Israel “to ensure that Gaza NEVER becomes a haven for terrorists again.”
“We have accomplished so much without even being in the White House,” Trump wrote. “Just imagine all the wonderful things that will happen when I return to the White House, and my administration is fully confirmed, so that it can secure more victories for America!”
Trump is at his Mar-a-Lago estate on Wednesday, five days removed from becoming president.
Margaret Brennan, Marwan Al-Ghoul, Mais Al-Bayaa and Michal Ben-Gal contributed to this report.
