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Truce and POW-swap deal agreed between Hamas and Israel

The sides have agreed on a 42-day truce, initiating prisoner exchanges and humanitarian aid, according to several news outlets

Israel and Hamas have reportedly reached a ceasefire agreement to end their 15-month conflict in Gaza. The deal, mediated by the US, Qatar, and Egypt, includes a 42-day truce and the exchange of prisoners.

The official announcement is expected on Wednesday evening in Cairo, but US President-elect Donald Trump has already made several statements confirming that the agreement has been reached, crediting his envoy Steve Witkoff for the breakthrough.

Hamas launched a series of raids out of Gaza on October 7, 2023, which were blamed for the deaths of over 1,100 Israelis, while 250 Israelis were said to have been taken captive. West Jerusalem responded by declaring war on the Palestinian militant group. More than 46,000 people have been killed in Gaza since then, while much of the enclave has been turned to rubble.

15 January 2025
17:52 GMT
US President-elect Donald Trump commented on the agreement, calling it an “EPIC ceasefire agreement” that could have only happened as a result of his victory. His national security team will ”continue to work closely with Israel and our Allies to make sure Gaza NEVER again becomes a terrorist safe haven,” the president-elect added in a Truth Social post.
17:50 GMT
Journalist Glenn Greenwald has attributed the ceasefire deal to US President-elect Donald Trump, criticizing the outgoing administration for doing nothing.
“I don’t care what Trump’s motives are or what else he promised Israel, which I’m sure is non-trivial,” Greenwald said on X on Wednesday. “Anyone who causes an end to Israel’s civilian- destruction in Gaza has done a good thing, and there’s no denying his key role.”
I don't care what you think of Trump. I don't care what Trump's motives are or what else he promised Israel, which I'm sure is non-trivial.Anyone who causes an end to Israel's civilian- destruction in Gaza has done a good thing, and there's no denying his key role: https://t.co/saOMNruu78
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) January 15, 2025
On Tuesday, while the truce was still a rumor, Greenwald pointed out that “Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were in office 15 months while Israel destroyed Gaza, and never once imposed conditions or used US leverage to get a peace deal. Trump wins and 6 days before he’s inaugurated, Israel and Hamas have a peace deal in principle that Israel says it hates.”
17:28 GMT
According to Al Jazeera, the agreement between Israel and Hamas includes a six-week ceasefire. Israel is to release 30 Palestinians for every hostage, as well as 50 Palestinians for every Israeli female soldier. The 33 Israeli hostages are to be released within 42 days.
The Qatar-based channel also claims that the agreement includes 600 trucks of humanitarian aid entering Gaza daily. The total number of Palestinians released by Israel during the deal could reach 1,650.
17:26 GMT
“We have a deal for the hostages in the Middle East,” US President-elect Donald Trump has posted on his TruthSocial platform on Wednesday. “They will be released shortly.”
17:24 GMT
Hamas’ delegation has delivered its approval of a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement to mediators, according to a statement by the group on Telegram. “The movement affirms that it responded responsibly and positively to the proposal, guided by its commitment to our steadfast people in the Gaza Strip to halt the Zionist aggression” and to end the fighting, the announcement claimed.
17:24 GMT
The deal between Israel and Hamas, which has not yet been officially announced as of Wednesday, outlines an initial six-week ceasefire phase. This agreement includes the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces and the release of hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian detainees held by Israel, according to Reuters, citing an official briefed on the negotiations.