According to a CNN report, Israel and Hamas have agreed to a cease-fire deal…
After more than 15 months of fighting, Israel and terror group Hamas have agreed to a cease-fire deal. Hamas has also agreed to release 33 hostages taken during the October 7th terror attack.
From CNN:
The Israeli government and Hamas have agreed to a deal that will pause fighting in Gaza and lead to the phased release of hostages and Palestinian prisoners, a source briefed on the talks tells CNN.
Under the deal, which is yet to be formally announced, Hamas and its allied militant groups are expected to release 33 hostages seized from Israel during the attacks of October 7, 2023.
In return, Israel will free hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
The agreement would deliver the first reprieve from war for the people of Gaza in more than a year, and only the second since the Israeli bombardment began.
Once confirmed, it is expected that the deal will allow Palestinian civilians to return to northern Gaza and there would be a massive influx of humanitarian aid into the strip, where residents have long faced dire humanitarian conditions.
President-elect Donald Trump reacted to the news on TRUTH Social, saying “WE HAVE A DEAL FOR THE HOSTAGES IN THE MIDDLE EAST. THEY WILL BE RELEASED SHORTLY. THANK YOU!”
In a follow-up TRUTH post, Trump added the following:
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.
With this deal in place, my National Security team, through the efforts of Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, will continue to work closely with Israel and our Allies to make sure Gaza NEVER again becomes a terrorist safe haven. We will continue promoting PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH throughout the region, as we build upon the momentum of this ceasefire to further expand the Historic Abraham Accords. This is only the beginning of great things to come for America, and indeed, the World!
We have achieved so much without even being in the White House. Just imagine all of the wonderful things that will happen when I return to the White House, and my Administration is fully confirmed, so they can secure more Victories for the United States!
The hostage release is part of the first phase to end the fighting between Israel and Hamas. The second phase, which would bring an end to the war, would begin on the 16th day of the implementation of the deal, CNN reports.
Outgoing Secretary of State Antony Blinken revealed that a cease-fire deal was “on the brink” during a recent interview.
"We're on the brink" of a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, @SecBlinken tells me. "It'll be on the basis of the plan President Biden put forward in May," he says, outlining how it will unfold. But a permanent ceasefire "is not sorted," he adds.
Full interview 1pET @cnni pic.twitter.com/ZYXe50Nfht
— Christiane Amanpour (@amanpour) January 15, 2025
President-elect Trump has said that “all hell’s going to break out” if Hamas doesn’t release the hostages before January 20th — Trump’s Inauguration Day. Vice President-elect JD Vance recently shared with Fox News what Trump meant by that threat.
Trump says if all the Israeli hostages aren’t released by Hamas before he gets into office there will be hell to pay. Good for him. pic.twitter.com/WUPFevfkiu
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) December 16, 2024
“It means enabling the Israelis to knock out the last couple of battalions of Hamas and their leadership. It means very aggressive sanctions and financial penalties on those supporting terrorist organizations in the Middle East. It means actually doing the job of American leadership,” said Vance of Trump’s comments at the end of December.
“We’re hopeful there’s a deal that’s struck toward the very end of the Biden administration, maybe the last day or two,” he said. “But regardless of when that deal is struck, it will be because people are terrified that there are going to be consequences for Hamas.”
This story is developing…
Israel and Hamas agree to a deal that will pause fighting in Gaza and lead to the phased release of hostages and Palestinian prisoners, source says https://t.co/y5awF7heWl
— CNN (@CNN) January 15, 2025