Israel and Hamas agree to a ceasefire in Gaza and a hostage agreement

On Wednesday, Israel and Hamas reached an agreement on a ceasefire and the release of the hostages, which represents a major progress in their talks. 15-month warwhich it has It caused destruction And smoldering tensions Throughout the region.

An Israeli official was briefed on the talks Confirm the deal For NBC News. The long-awaited agreement came following a meeting between Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani with Hamas negotiators and, separately, with Israeli negotiators.

“The administration has just informed me that a deal has been agreed upon,” Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said on the Senate floor on Wednesday. He added, “The ceasefire is very good news for Israel, America and the Palestinian people, especially for the families of the hostages who have waited so long in agony.”

the Israel Defense Forces He also posted a message regarding the deal on the X website, in which he wrote, “Wings of Freedom is the name given to the Israeli army’s preparations to return the hostages.”

News of the agreement sparked joyful demonstrations in the streets of both Israel and Gaza late Wednesday local time.

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.

Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social: “We have an agreement regarding the hostages in the Middle East. They will be released soon.”

Mediators in Qatar on Monday presented the final draft of the deal to representatives of both sides, including the heads of Israel’s spy agency, Mossad.

Envoys for both presidents Joe Biden Trump was present in the final rounds of negotiations. US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that the proposed agreement is based on a framework presented by the Biden administration in May.

Trump’s choice for Secretary of State, Senator Marco Rubio, was testifying Senate confirmation hearing When news of the deal broke on Wednesday. He pointed to the participation of Steve Witkoff, whom Trump chose as Middle East envoy, in the talks that took place since the announcement of his appointment.

“All participants deserve praise for the ceasefire that the (Senate Committee) Chairman just announced,” Rubio said. “But Steve Witkoff was critical to it, and he was involved in it from day one.”

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

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.”

Witkopf has also traveled several times to Qatar and Israel to participate in the talks since assuming this 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.

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 about 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.