Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas have reached a temporary ceasefire and hostage deal, an agreement that could herald the end of the 15-month conflict in Gaza that has sparked clashes across the Middle East.
Under the first, six-week phase of the agreement, Hamas will release some women, elderly and wounded Israeli and US hostages, US president Joe Biden said at the White House said today.
Israel will release "hundreds" of prisoners now in its custody, and Israeli troops will withdraw from all populated areas, Biden said. The agreement also will enable a surge of humanitarian assistance into Gaza.
During the first six weeks, Israel and Hamas will continue negotiations aimed at a permanent ceasefire. A second phase would involve the release of all living Israeli hostages, including male soldiers, while all Israeli forces would withdraw from Gaza, Biden said.
The temporary ceasefire will continue beyond the six weeks if the parties are still negotiating but have not yet reached agreement on a permanent ceasefire.
A third phase of the agreement would feature a return of the remains of those Israeli hostages killed in Gaza and the launch of a massive rebuilding effort in the enclave.
Qatar's prime minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said the cease-fire agreement will take effect on 19 January.
Besides the US and Qatar, Egypt was involved in the diplomatic effort to reach the agreement.
Biden said the agreement follows the contours of a plan he laid out in May 2024. "This is one of the toughest negotiations I've ever experienced," Biden said.
US president-elect Donald Trump claimed credit for the breakthrough, contending on social media that "this EPIC ceasefire agreement could have only happened as a result of our Historic Victory in November".
If implemented fully, the agreement could dial down tensions in a region that has seen Israel clash with Iran and Iran-backed groups in Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen.
The Gaza conflict started on 7 October 2023 when Hamas staged a cross-border attack on Israel, killing about 1,200 Israelis and kidnapping another 200. Israel responded by launching a wide-scale invasion of Gaza which has so far killed more than 46,000.
