After months of intense conflict and stalled negotiations, Israel and Hamas have reached a significant ceasefire and hostage release agreement, President Joe Biden announced on Wednesday. The deal aims to halt the prolonged violence in Gaza and facilitate the release of hostages, marking a potential breakthrough in one of the Middle East’s deadliest and most protracted conflicts.
The agreement brokered with the involvement of the United States, Qatar, and Egypt, lays out a phased plan beginning with an initial six-week ceasefire. This first phase will include the release of 38 hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Israel releasing up to 1,000 Palestinian detainees. In addition, Israeli forces will gradually withdraw from key populated areas in Gaza, paving the way for further negotiations.
The deal’s first phase will begin on Sunday, with hostages released in stages over 42 days. Those freed by Hamas will include women, elderly individuals, and those with medical needs. In exchange, Israel will release Palestinian prisoners from its jails. A senior administration official confirmed that Americans Keith Siegel, 64, and Sagui Dekel-Chen, 36, will be part of the initial group freed. However, Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old Israeli-American soldier, is not included in this first wave.
Negotiations for a second phase, which would involve the release of all remaining hostages and the withdrawal of more Israeli troops, will commence after the first phase concludes. If successful, this phase would formalize a permanent ceasefire, marking an end to the 15-month war. A third phase would focus on transferring the remains of deceased hostages and initiating the reconstruction of Gaza, which has been devastated by the conflict.
President Biden emphasized the immense difficulty of securing this agreement, calling it one of the toughest diplomatic negotiations of his career. He credited the U.S. and its partners for their persistence, as well as Israeli pressure on Hamas to create conditions conducive to a deal. “There was no other way for this war to end than with a hostage deal,” Biden stated. “For the sake of those waiting in agony and the innocent people suffering in Gaza, this day had to come.”
The war, which began in October 2023 with a Hamas attack on southern Israel, has resulted in the deaths of over 46,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s health ministry. The attack also led to the abduction of 251 people, of whom 94 remain in captivity. Israel’s retaliatory military campaign has displaced millions and triggered regional instability, with conflicts spreading to Lebanon, Yemen, and even involving Iran.
The timing of the agreement, just days before President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, has led to political maneuvering from both Biden and Trump. Trump claimed his election victory was the catalyst for the deal, stating, “This EPIC ceasefire agreement could have only happened as a result of our Historic Victory in November.” Meanwhile, Biden stressed that the deal was developed and negotiated entirely under his administration.
Acknowledging the imminent transition of power, Biden said, “This agreement was shaped by my administration, but its terms will largely be implemented by the next. We’ve been working as one team to ensure a unified approach.”
Despite the optimism surrounding the agreement, significant challenges remain. The list of hostages and prisoners slated for release in the initial phase has not been publicly disclosed, and the logistics of the exchange are expected to be complex. The ceasefire itself is fragile, and violations could derail the entire process.
The broader conflict has left Gaza in ruins, with its infrastructure heavily damaged and most of its population displaced. The long-term success of this agreement will depend on sustained efforts from all parties to uphold its terms and work toward rebuilding trust and stability in the region.
Biden expressed cautious hope, stating, “This is the beginning of a path to resolution. While challenges remain, today offers a glimmer of hope for families and communities that have endured unimaginable suffering.”
