Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal reached in Gaza war

Israel and Hamas reached an agreement on Wednesday on a ceasefire and the release of hostages, a major breakthrough in their 15-month war, which has caused destruction and stoked tensions in the region.

An Israeli official briefed on the negotiations confirmed the agreement to NBC News. The long-awaited agreement follows Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani’s meeting with Hamas negotiators and, separately, with Israeli negotiators.

News of the deal sparked joyous protests in the streets of Israel and Gaza on Wednesday evening local time.

These developments come ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20 – a date seen by many as a de facto deadline for mediation, after the president-elect promised there would be “hell to pay” unless Hamas is freed. Israeli hostages as he takes office.

“We have a deal for the hostages in the Middle East. They will be released soon,” Trump wrote on his social network Truth Social.

Qatari mediators presented the final draft of the agreement to representatives of both sides, including the heads of Israel’s intelligence agency, Mossad, on Monday.

Envoys from President Joe Biden and Trump have been present during the last rounds of negotiations. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the proposed deal was based on a framework proposed by the Biden administration in May.

Sen. Marco Rubio, Trump’s pick for secretary of state, was testifying at his Senate confirmation hearing when news of the deal broke Wednesday. He noted the participation of Trump’s pick for Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, in talks held since Witkoff’s announcement.

“Everyone involved deserves credit for the ceasefire that the (Senate committee) chairman just announced,” Rubio said. “But Steve Witkoff was a vital part of it, and he was involved in it from day one.”

Witkoff is not yet an official US government envoy and will not assume the role until after Trump is sworn in on January 20.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar thanked U.S. officials for their work toward 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 enormous effort they are investing in securing a hostage deal.”

Witkoff has also traveled to Qatar and Israel several times to participate in negotiations since landing the role.

Blinken called Witkoff’s involvement “critical,” emphasizing the importance of ensuring that Trump continues to support the deal once in office.

In recent months, Hamas and Israeli officials have largely agreed to reach a ceasefire in exchange for the release of Israeli hostages held by the Gaza-based militant group.

But the persistent sticking point remained Hamas’s demand that a full release of the hostages must lead to a complete Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza and an end to the war, while Israeli leaders believed the campaign against Gaza should continue until ‘until Hamas is dismantled.

Hamas planned and led the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel that killed some 1,200 people and took another 253 hostages. Around 116 of these captives have since been released.

The October attack sparked the war between Israel and Hamas and the relentless Israeli military offensive in the Gaza Strip which, according to Palestinian health authorities, has killed more than 46,000 people and destroyed the majority of the blockaded territory. .

This is a developing story, please check back for updates.