Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that there is now a deal to return the hostages held in Gaza after his office previously pointed to a “last-minute crisis” caused by Hamas, the Associated Press reports.
According to the AP, Netanyahu and his Security Cabinet will convene on Friday and then the government will approve the agreed-upon terms.
Why It Matters
During a news conference on Wednesday, Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani confirmed a ceasefire agreement had been reached between Hamas and Israel.
According to Israeli figures, over 250 hostages were taken to Gaza by Hamas militants in the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that ignited the devastating counteroffensive against Hamas. Netanyahu has faced immense political and domestic pressure to assure release of the captives.
Newsweek reached out to the White House for comment via email on Thursday night.
What To Know
Netanyahu’s office said that Hamas reneged on a previous agreement to allow Israel a say in which prisoners, previously convicted of murder, would be released in exchange for hostages, ultimately delaying the approval of the ceasefire deal by the Cabinet.
According to U.S. President Joe Biden and Qatar’s Al Thani on Wednesday, the deal was to secure 33 hostages over a six-week period.
CNN’s MJ Lee also reported on Wednesday that two of the American hostages in Gaza, Sagui Dekel-Chen and Keith Siegel, were on the list to be released during the six weeks.
What People Are Saying
The Prime Minister of Israel’s X account posted on Wednesday: “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke this evening with US President-elect Donald Trump and thanked him for his assistance in advancing the release of the hostages and for helping Israel bring an end to the suffering of dozens of hostages and their families.
“The Prime Minister made it clear that he is committed to returning all of the hostages however he can, and commended the US President-elect for his remarks that the US would work with Israel to ensure that Gaza will never be a haven for terrorism. The two decided to meet in Washington soon in order to discuss this and other important issues.
“Prime Minister Netanyahu then spoke with US President Joe Biden and thanked him as well for his assistance in advancing the hostages deal.”
Trump posted to his Truth Social on Wednesday, in part: “This EPIC ceasefire agreement could have only happened as a result of our Historic Victory in November, as it signaled to the entire World that my Administration would seek Peace and negotiate deals to ensure the safety of all Americans, and our Allies. I am thrilled American and Israeli hostages will be returning home to be reunited with their families and loved ones.”
Biden posted to X on Wednesday: “The road to this deal has not been easy. I have worked in foreign policy for decades – this has been one of the toughest negotiations I have ever experienced. And we have reached this point because of the pressure that Israel built on Hamas backed by the United States.”
What Happens Next
The hostages are expected to be released over the six weeks during “phase one,” set to set begin on Sunday. The first of three phases in the accord is scheduled to include the ceasefire, hostage/prisoner trades and humanitarian assistance for Gaza, Biden said.
During the second phase, the rest of the surviving captives, including male soldiers, would be released and Israeli forces in Gaza would pull out, AP reports.
The third and final phase, per AP, would see the beginning of a massive reconstruction in Gaza, expected to take decades in the wake of the crippling war.
Update 1/16/25, 10:44 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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