A ceasefire agreement has been reached between Israel and Hamas after 15 months of devastating war in the Gaza Strip. The deal, brokered by the US, Qatar, and Egypt, promises to release dozens of hostages held by Hamas in phases, hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israel, and allow hundreds of thousands of displaced people in Gaza to return to their homes. The agreement also includes the delivery of humanitarian aid to a devastated territory. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Cabinet must approve the deal, which is expected to go into effect in the coming days.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/israel-hamas-agree-to-ceasefire-to-pause-gaza-war-release-some-hostages-mediators-say/article69102157.eceA ceasefire agreement is expected to begin on Sunday, welcomed by Palestinians in Gaza, relatives of hostages held there, and world leaders, despite Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's statement that it was not yet finalized. The deal aims to release scores of hostages held in Gaza and pause fighting, with a view to eventually winding down the 15-month war that has destabilized the Middle East and sparked protests worldwide. However, Netanyahu's office claims Hamas is reneging on parts of the agreement, while Izzat al-Rishq, a senior Hamas official, asserts the group remains committed to the ceasefire. The war was triggered by a Hamas cross-border attack into Israel in October 2023 that killed over 1,200 people and took 250 hostages, leading to an Israeli response that has resulted in the deaths of over 46,000 Palestinians, including women and children.
https://krcgtv.com/news/nation-world/israel-prime-minister-benjamin-netanyahu-cites-hamas-crisis-as-obstacle-to-finalizing-gaza-ceasefire-deal-hostages-truce-mediator-qatar-palestinian-deaths-prisoners-october-7-2023-attack-phased-withdrawal#Israeli airstrikes in Gaza killed at least 72 people as tensions rose over a proposed ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. The agreement, announced by US President Joe Biden and mediator Qatar, was met with relief from Palestinians and world leaders, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government coalition partners opposed it. A dispute over the deployment of Israeli forces in the Philadelphi corridor, a narrow strip bordering Egypt, held up approval of the deal, which had been scheduled to take effect on Sunday. Netanyahu accused Hamas of reneging on parts of the agreement, but Hamas denied this, saying they were committed to the ceasefire. The holdup has raised concerns about the stability of Netanyahu's government coalition and its ability to implement the deal.
https://www.boston25news.com/news/world/netanyahu-postpones/XN7T6AZTNRDCFP6ACQ2A3ECSKU/A deal to end the 15-month conflict between Israel and Hamas has been delayed due to uncertainty over whether far-right elements in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition will resign in protest, which would likely bring down his government. The deal, announced by US President Joe Biden and Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, involves the release of an unspecified number of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons in exchange for the return of all hostages, alive or dead. Two former Hamas military commanders from the West Bank are among those whose names may be added to the list of prisoners to be released.
https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2025/01/16/Hamas-cease-fire-deal-hits-snag/1751737018974/A ceasefire agreement has been announced between Hamas and Israel, which includes the release of scores of hostages held in Gaza and a pause in fighting to eventually wind down a 15-month war that has destabilized the Middle East and sparked worldwide protests. The deal was brokered by mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and the US, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu facing heavy internal pressure to bring home the hostages while his far-right coalition partners have threatened to bring down his government if he makes too many concessions. Under the agreement, 33 of around 100 remaining hostages will be released over six weeks in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, and Israeli forces will pull back from many areas, allowing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to return to their homes. However, questions remain about Gaza's future, including who will rule the territory or oversee reconstruction efforts, as Hamas has vowed not to release remaining captives without a lasting ceasefire and full Israeli withdrawal.
https://stltoday.com/news/nation-world/netanyahu-says-last-minute-crisis-with-hamas-holding-up-approval-of-gaza-truce-and-hostage/article_26ce467c-d400-11ef-93bb-6bcc32cadfcd.htmlSmoke rises from destroyed buildings as Israeli bombardments on the Gaza Strip continue ahead of a ceasefire set to take effect. The deal announced Wednesday would see scores of hostages held in Gaza released and a pause in fighting, with hundreds of thousands of Palestinians able to return to their homes and a surge of humanitarian assistance. However, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has claimed that Hamas is holding up approval of the deal, accusing them of backtracking on an understanding that would give Israel a veto over which prisoners convicted of murder would be released in exchange for hostages. The deal has been met with opposition from some of Netanyahu's far-right coalition partners, who have threatened to bring down his government if he makes too many concessions.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14291901/Israel-Hamas-accuse-deception-Netanyahu-blames-terror-group-minute-crisis-scupper-ceasefire-deal.htmlIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government has faced intense pressure to end the Gaza war, but analysts say that a ceasefire deal announced on Wednesday could help him stay in power. The deal, brokered by Qatar and the US, represents a pivotal moment for Netanyahu, who has been criticized for not securing the release of hostages sooner. Since Hamas' October 7 attack, which killed over 1,200 people, mostly civilians, Netanyahu vowed to crush Hamas and bring home the hostages. Despite his efforts, more than 400 troops have been killed in the Palestinian territory. The deal could pave the way for a long-sought normalization deal with Saudi Arabia, backed by incoming US President Donald Trump. Analysts say that Netanyahu may now seek to pivot away from his far-right coalition partners and use the ceasefire agreement to his advantage. The deal has sparked opposition from some of Netanyahu's cabinet members, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir. However, analysts believe that the obstacles clouding Netanyahu's mandate are unlikely to bring him down. Jonathan Rynhold, head of the political studies department at Bar-Ilan University in Tel Aviv, said that Netanyahu is a "political survivor" who has managed to navigate complex situations before. The deal could also be seen as a moment of truth for Netanyahu, where he might try to pivot away from the far right and towards a legacy-defining deal with Saudi Arabia. The ceasefire will be a test for Netanyahu, but analysts say that it is unlikely to bring him down. Former Defence Minister Benny Gantz, opposition leader Yair Lapid, and other figures have already indicated they would work with Netanyahu if he reaches an agreement to free the hostages or strikes a deal with Saudi Arabia.
https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/israel-prime-minister-benjamin-netanyahu-bets-on-political-survival-with-gaza-ceasefire-deal-7488367The proposed ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas is expected to be finalized before Donald Trump takes office. The deal would see the release of hostages held by Hamas and Palestinian detainees held by Israel, as well as Israel's withdrawal from populated areas in Gaza, allowing displaced residents to return home and humanitarian aid to flow into the enclave. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seen as being keen to start off ties with Trump on a positive note by "handing him a victory", which would be a significant concession for Israel. The agreement has been described as fragile, with analysts warning that there is an enormous risk of conflict resuming due to deep-seated hostility in the region. Despite this, cautious optimism is warranted, according to Simon Frankel Pratt, a senior political science lecturer at the University of Melbourne, who notes that Israel's military efforts in Gaza have stalled and it is not dealing much heavier blows to Hamas than it has months ago. The agreement would be a significant step towards rebuilding Gaza, where even the removal of rubble is expected to take more than a decade.
https://channelnewsasia.com/world/gaza-ceasefire-deal-agreement-israel-hamas-war-conflict-donald-trump-4859671A ceasefire agreement has been reached between Israel and Hamas, with both parties agreeing to a six-week truce. The deal was announced on January 16, 2025, after several days of negotiations. According to reports, the agreement was finalized despite last-minute disagreements over terms. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Hamas had walked back on its commitments, causing delays in the approval process. The ceasefire is seen as a temporary solution to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, with many experts describing it as a "Band-Aid" solution to a deeper issue.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-16/how-palestinians-and-israelis-reacted-to-gaza-ceasefire/104824210