Israel, Hamas Reach Ceasefire and Hostage Deal

Deutsche Welle

16 Jan 2025, 10:11

Photo: Hatem Khaled/REUTERS

Key Highlights:

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Qatar's prime minister announces that a Gaza truce deal between Israel and Hamas has been agreed
Thousands of Gazans reacted to the news with jubilation
The deal will go into effect as of January 19
Phase 1 of the deal entails 33 hostages being released by Hamas over a six-week period
Israel says some issues are to be resolved with a vote expected on Thursday

Crowds of Palestinians in Gaza have been celebrating as news spreads that a ceasefire and hostage release deal had been reached between Israel and Hamas.

Residents of the Palestinian territory chanted and hugged after the announcement of an agreement aimed at ending more than 15 months of war there.

Although Israel has cautioned that several points "remain unresolved" that it hoped would be addressed Wednesday night, celebrations were already underway in Gaza. The truce is due to take effect on Sunday.

Many of those in the streets took photos to mark the announcement.

"I can't believe that this nightmare of more than a year is finally coming to an end. We have lost so many people, we've lost everything," Randa Sameeh, a 45-year-old displaced from Gaza City to the Nuseirat Camp in central Gaza, told the AP news agency.

"We need a lot of rest," Sameeh added. "As soon as the truce begins, I will go to the cemetery to visit my brother and family members. We buried them in Deir el-Balah cemetery without proper graves. We will build them new graves and write their names on them."

Hamas: Gaza deal result of Palestinian 'steadfastness'
The Islamist militant group Hamas credited the "steadfastness" of the Palestinian people and its own "resistance" for the ceasefire deal with Israel to halt the war in Gaza.

"The ceasefire agreement is a result of the legendary steadfastness of our great Palestinian people and our valiant resistance in the Gaza Strip for over 15 months," Hamas said.

The group, designated as a terrorist organization by Germany, the United States, Israel and several other countries, added that the agreement paved "the way toward the realization of our people's aspirations for liberation and return."

Biden hails 'dogged and painstaking American diplomacy' for Gaza deal
Outgoing US President Joe Biden announced at the White House that "a ceasefire and a hostage deal has been reached between Israel and Hamas."

Biden said the deal followed "the exact framework of the deal I proposed back in May."

The deal, which will take effect on January 19, is "the result not only of the extreme pressure that Hamas has been under and the changed regional equation after a ceasefire in Lebanon and weakening of Iran — but also of dogged and painstaking American diplomacy," Biden said.

"My diplomacy never ceased in their efforts to get this done," he added.

As he began to leave, a reporter called out: "Who deserves credit for this Mr. President, you or Trump?"

Biden replied: "Is that a joke?"

UN stresses need to deliver aid to people in Gaza
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed the importance of allowing humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.

"It is imperative that this ceasefire removes the significant security and political obstacles to delivering aid across Gaza so that we can support a major increase in urgent life-saving humanitarian support," he said.

Meanwhile, the UN children's agency UNICEF called the agreement "long overdue."

"The war has exacted a horrific toll on Gaza's children — reportedly leaving at least 14,500 dead, thousands more injured, an estimated 17,000 unaccompanied or separated from their parents, and nearly one million displaced from their homes," according to a UNICEF statement.

"The ceasefire must, finally, afford humanitarian actors the opportunity to safely roll out the massive response inside the Gaza Strip that is so desperately needed," the UNICEF statement added.

Israeli president calls ceasefire deal 'right move'
Israeli President Isaac Herzog has called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli government to approve the deal that will end 15 months of fighting in Gaza when it comes up for a Cabinet vote.

In a televised statement on Wednesday, the president, whose role is largely ceremonial, called the agreement the "right move" to ensure the return of all hostages.

"As the president of the state of Israel, I say in the clearest terms: This is the right move. This is an important move. This is a necessary move," Herzog said.

"There is no greater moral, human, Jewish or Israeli obligation than to bring our sons and daughters back to us — whether to recover at home or to be laid to rest," he added.

What is the most challenging part about the Gaza ceasefire deal?
While the first phase of the ceasefire deal is not "a problem," the second one will be "tough," counterterrorism analyst Hans-Jakob Schindler told DW.

"Because when you are in the second phase, you have to think about the third phase, that is sustainable ceasefire, the rebuilding of the Gaza strip," he said.

The first stage entails the release of 33 hostages held by Hamas over the course of six weeks.

In addition to the remainder of the hostages released, the second stage "would see the withdrawal of the Israeli army from most of the Gaza Strip, especially from the real security zone along the Egyptian border," he said.

The question then is who will be responsible for Gaza, Schindler pointed out.

"If the answer is there is no answer, then the chances are very high that after a short period of time, it's going to be Hamas again," he said.

The long wait of the families of hostages
Relatives of hostages taken captive after the October 7, 2023, attacks have waited for more than 15 months to receive news about the fate of their loved ones.

Netanyahu thanks Biden and Trump in calls
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held calls with both US President-elect Donald Trump and President Joe Biden to thank them for their support in advancing the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.

In a statement released by Netanyahu's office, the Israeli leader said he "congratulated President-elect Trump for saying the US will work with Israel so that Gaza will never be a shelter for terrorism again."

According to the statement, Trump and Netanyahu have agreed to meet in Washington "soon."

The Israeli statement also noted that Netanyahu had spoken to Biden, thanking him "for his assistance in advancing the hostage deal."

Hostages and Missing Families Forum react to news of hostage deal
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, the organization that represents the majority of family members of Israeli hostages held in Gaza, welcomed the ceasefire deal, calling it "an important and significant development."

At the same time, the Forum said it was just the beginning. "The announcement does now allow the families to be happy or relieved," the Forum said in a post on its Facebook page. "Our breath will remain held until all of our loved ones are home."

The Tikva Forum, a right-wing group representing a small number of hostages' family members, condemned the deal, saying it would result in many hostages being left behind.

"The deal would also pave the way for the next massacre and for more hostages," the Forum said.

UNICEF welcomes ceasefire deal
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has reacted to the ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Islamist militant group Hamas in Gaza.

"The war has exacted a horrific toll on Gaza's children," UNICEF's Executive Director Catherine Russell said in a statement, adding that the scale of humanitarian needs in the enclave is "enormous."

According to the Hamas-led Health Ministry in Gaza, at least 14,500 children have been killed since October 2023, with an estimated 17,000 children remaining unaccompanied or separated from their parents.

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