Israel, Hamas agree to ceasefire, hostage deal, ushering a possible end to 15-months of Middle East conflict

A ceasefire deal, which includes conditions for the release of hostages has been struck between negotiators from Israel and Hamas, bringing to an end over 15 months of conflict that has seen the death of tens of thousands in the Middle East.

US President Joe Biden confirmed a deal had been reached, saying: “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.”

The conflict, which erupted after Hamas attacked Israeli citizens on October 7, 2023 and saw hundreds of citizens taken hostage, sparked a war between Israel and the terrorist group.

“Even as we welcome this news, we remember all the families whose loved ones were killed in Hamas’s October 7th attack, and the many innocent people killed in the war that followed,” Mr Biden added.

“It is long past time for the fighting to end and the work of building peace and security to begin.”

Incoming President-elect Donald Trump, whose warning of “hell to pay” if hostages were not freed ahead of his inauguration on January 20 reportedly hurried a panicked Hamas into agreeing to a deal, celebrated the “epic ceasefire”.

“We have a deal for the hostages in the Middle East,” he wrote on Truth Social.

“They will be released shortly. Thank you!”

The ceasefire will commence on Sunday January 19, 2025.

Although the US president and president-elect celebrated the breakthrough, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned there was still work to be done on the final details of the agreement, however, said those “details will be finalised tonight”.

What is the ceasefire and hostage deal between Israel and Hamas

The initial deal is understood to include a six-week ceasefire, which will see the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip.

Hostages held by Hamas will be swapped for Palestinian detainees held by Israel, according to sources close to the deal.

The release of those held captive is set to occur in three phases, with the first of the hostages potentially being released within hours.

In the first phase, women, children, those wounded and hostages above the age of 50 will be released over six weeks.

The second phase is understood to include the release of all remaining hostages, including Israeli soldiers being held by Hamas in Gaza.

Israel believes there are currently 60 hostages that are still alive being held by Gaza.

Israel to vote on ceasefire and hostage deal

The Israeli government will vote on a ceasefire deal on Thursday, with a majority of ministers expected to approve the deal, a government official told Reuters.

The agreement follows months of on-off negotiations brokered by Egyptian and Qatari mediators, with the backing of the United States, and came just ahead of the January 20 deadline given by Mr Trump.

Verbal agreement on ceasefire and hostage deal

Hamas, Gaza’s dominant Palestinian militant group, told Reuters its delegation had handed mediators its approval for the ceasefire agreement and return of hostages.

A Palestinian official, who asked not to be named, told Reuters earlier that Hamas had given verbal approval to the ceasefire and hostage return proposal under negotiation in Qatar and was waiting for more information to give final written approval.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said he was cutting a visit to Europe short and flying back to Israel overnight to take part in security cabinet and government votes on the deal - meaning the votes would likely be by or on Thursday.

“This is the right move. This is an important move. This is a necessary move,” said Israeli President Isaac Herzog in an emotional address to the nation on Wednesday evening.

“There is no greater moral, human, Jewish, or Israeli obligation than to bring our sons and daughters back to us—whether to recover at home, or to be laid to rest.”

But he warned that the path ahead would be difficult.

“Let there be no illusions. This deal—when signed, approved, and implemented—will bring with it deeply painful, challenging, and harrowing moments,” he said. “It will also present significant challenges. This is not a simple situation; it is among the greatest challenges we have ever known.”

Israeli troops invaded the Gaza Strip after Hamas-led gunmen broke through security barriers and burst into Israeli communities on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 soldiers and civilians and abducting more than 250 foreign and Israeli hostages.

Israel’s campaign in the strip has killed more than 46,000 people, according to Gaza health ministry figures, and left the coastal enclave a wasteland of rubble with hundreds of thousands surviving the winter cold in tents and makeshift shelters.

As his inauguration approached, Mr Trump repeated his demand that a deal be done swiftly, warning repeatedly that there would be “hell to pay” if the hostages were not released.

His Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff worked with US President Joe Biden’s team to push the deal over the line.

The conflict spread across the Middle East, with Iran-aligned proxies in Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen attacking Israel in solidarity with the Palestinians.

The deal comes after Israel killed the top leaders of Hamas and Lebanon’s Hezbollah in assassinations which gave it the upper hand.

Despite the talks on a ceasefire, the Israeli military, the Shin Bet internal intelligence agency and the air force attacked about 50 targets throughout the enclave over the last 24 hours, Shin Bet and the military said in a statement on Wednesday.

Israeli strikes killed at least 13 Palestinians across the enclave.

Those included seven people who were in a school sheltering displaced families in Gaza City and six others killed in separate air strikes on houses in Deir al-Balah, Bureij camp and Rafah, medics said.

More to come...

- With Reuters DPA and AP