President Biden announces ceasefire and hostage deal with VP Harris and Sec. of State Blinken

Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire deal Wednesday which pauses the 15-month war in the Gaza Strip, mediators announced.

The deal promises the release of dozens of hostages held by Hamas and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Thousands of people would also be allowed to return home after being displaced.

Egypt, Qatar and the Biden administration have spent more than a year trying to broker an agreement to end the war that began on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked southern Israel and took about 250 hostages.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office contradicted what mediators had to say and stated a deal had still not been reached with the final details still being sorted out.

Hamas senior official Basem Naim told CNN they approved the agreement and consulted allied militant groups.

"The movement has dealt with this matter with full responsibility and positivity, stemming from its duty towards our steadfast and resilient people in the Gaza Strip, to stop the Zionist aggression against them and put an end to the massacres and genocide they are facing."

Initially, the deal will deliver a six-week halt to fighting and 33 of the nearly 100 hostages will be released to loved ones.

A weeklong truce in November 2023 allowed for the release of more than 100 hostages.

President Joe Biden praised the ceasefire deal in a statement and said it "will halt the fighting in Gaza, surge much needed-humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians, and reunite the hostages with their families."

https://katu.com/news/nation-world/israel-and-hamas-agree-to-ceasefire-as-hostages-set-for-release-in-gaza-strip-palestinians-prisoners-deaths-egypt-qatar-biden-administration-mediators-middle-east-conflict-hamas-attack

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News post in at: January 16, 2025, 3:00 am.

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