Israel and Hamas reached a deal Wednesday for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages, a major breakthrough in their 15-month war, which ha

Israel and Hamas reach Gaza hostage deal, ceasefire to begin Sunday

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2025-01-15 19:30:12

Israel and Hamas reached a deal Wednesday for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages, a major breakthrough in their 15-month war, which has wreaked destruction and inflamed tensions across the region.

Speaking at the White House, President Joe Biden said the deal would be implemented in three phases, starting Sunday, Jan. 19.

The first phase will include "a full and complete ceasefire, withdrawal of Israeli forces from all the populated areas of Gaza and the release of a number of hostages held by Hamas, including women and the elderly and the wounded," he said.

"In exchange, Israel will release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. And during phase one, the Palestinians can also return to their neighborhoods in all areas of Gaza. And the surge humanitarian assistance in the Gaza will begin, so that innocent people can have a greater access to these vital supplies.

"During the next six weeks, Israel will negotiate the necessary arrangements to get phase two, which is a permanent end of the war," said Biden. "A number of details will need to be negotiated to move from phase one to phase two. But the plan says if negotiations take longer than six weeks, the ceasefire will continue."