Cease-fire deal reached between Israel and Hamas in Gaza

WASHINGTON —  More than 15 months into Israel’s devastating war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the two sides have agreed to a cease-fire deal that would pause fighting and free some Israeli hostages in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners, U.S. and Qatari officials said Wednesday.

“At long last, I can announce a ceasefire, and a hostage deal, has been reached between Israel and Hamas,” President Biden said from the White House.

The guidelines of the hard-fought agreement were first presented by Biden last summer, but months of negotiations repeatedly failed to bring the two enemies together.

The ceasefire, which will start on Sunday, starts with a six-week period during which fighting stops and hostages are released. During that period negotiations for a permanent end to the war will commence, Biden said.

“The Palestinian people have gone through hell,” Biden added. “Too many people have died.”

Qatar’s prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al Thani, first announced the agreement.

“We thank God we’ve reached this phase,” he said at a news conference in the Qatari capital, Doha. “We hope this will be the last page in these times of war. We hope all the parties will fulfill their obligations.

“We tell our brothers in Gaza, we will always support the Palestinian people,” he added. “We will never give up on Gaza.”

U.S., Qatari and Egyptian negotiators spent months holding extensive rounds of talks with Israeli and Hamas leaders to broker what the parties hope will bring at least a partial end to a conflict that has left 46,000 Palestinians dead, around half women and children, Palestinian officials estimate.

Unusually, teams representing both Biden and President-elect Donald Trump worked together to secure the deal and joined the other mediators. “We’ve spoken as one team,” Biden said.

The war — which destabilized the Middle East and unleashed protests across the U.S. — began Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas, the militant group that rules Gaza, invaded southern Israel, killed more than 1,200 Israelis and kidnapped some 250 others.

Israel immediately launched a relentless barrage of air strikes and ground operations that destroyed most of the coastal enclave’s houses, buildings, hospitals and infrastructure, bringing many survivors to the brink of starvation.

Under the deal, Israel and Hamas agree to an initial six-week halt to fighting. About a third of the 100 hostages remaining - others have been released, rescued or killed - would be freed and as many as 1,000, Palestinians held by Israel would be released.

Notably, Israeli troops will not withdraw from the Gaza Strip but will retreat away from populated areas. The more than million Palestinians who have been displaced from their homes Humanitarian aid will be allowed t

Israel believes that another one-third of the 100 hostages in Gaza are already dead; those to be released initially fit into categories of older people, women, children and the infirm. Soldiers would not yet be released.

Biden proposed the framework for the cease-fire months ago. It’s been delayed by both sides. Hamas has not wanted to accept anything short of a full end of Israeli occupation of and attacks on Gaza. Israel has refused to withdraw from the territory until it deems Hamas has been destroyed.

Next week’s Trump inauguration may have increased pressure. He has said publicly he wanted to see hostages released before he takes office and signaled he would not hold back Israel.

The deal still faces obstacles. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet must approve it, and given the recalcitrant members of that group, approval is not guaranteed.

Biden has also insisted on a “day-after” plan for Gaza, which would include a permanent end to the war and a path forward to an independent Palestinian state. Trump, however, does not support Palestinian sovereignty.