Palestinians gather on the ruins of a house destroyed in an Israeli raid on the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip on November 12, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.
Magdy Fathi | norphoto | Getty Images
Ceasefire and hostage agreement between Israel Hamas has been reached, NBC News reported, marking a pivotal breakthrough in the negotiations A bloody war that lasted 15 months This has It caused destruction And smoldering tensions Throughout the region.
These developments come ahead of the inauguration of the president-elect Donald Trump on January 20 – a date that many consider a de facto deadline for mediation, after the president-elect vowed there would be “hell to pay” unless Hamas released the Israeli hostages by the time he took office.
On Monday, mediators in Qatar presented the final draft of the deal to representatives of both sides, including the heads of the Israeli spy agency Mossad. Hamas officials said progress had been made on some key issues, and a conclusion was expected “soon,” according to Reuters.
Envoys for both presidents Joe Biden Trump was present in the negotiations. US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that the proposed agreement is based on a framework presented by the Biden administration in May.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar thanked American officials for their work in pressing for a ceasefire. The deal “looks much better than before,” Saar told media on Monday, Reuters reported, adding: “I want to thank our American friends for the huge efforts they are investing in securing the hostage deal.”
Steve Witkoff, Trump's pick for Middle East envoy, has also traveled several times to Qatar and Israel to participate in talks since taking that position.
Blinken described Witkopf's participation as “critical,” stressing the importance of ensuring Trump continues to support the deal once he takes office.
Over the past few months, Hamas and Israeli officials have broadly agreed to reach a ceasefire in exchange for the release of Israeli hostages held by the militant group in Gaza.
Demonstrators hold signs during a protest calling for action to secure the release of Israelis held hostage in Gaza since October 2023, in front of the Israeli Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv on January 14, 2025, amid the ongoing war between Israel and the Hamas militant group.
Jacques Guise | AFP | Getty Images
But the perennial sticking point has been Hamas's demand that the full release of the hostages must lead to a complete Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza and an end to the war, while Israeli leaders have stressed that the campaign in Gaza must continue until Hamas is dismantled.
Hamas planned and led the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel that killed approximately 1,200 people and took another 253 hostage. About 116 of these prisoners have since been released.
The October attack triggered the subsequent war between Israel and Hamas and the ongoing Israeli military assault on the Gaza Strip, which Palestinian health authorities say has killed more than 46,000 people and destroyed the majority of the besieged territory.
This is a developing story, please check back for updates.
