Mon | May 18, 2026

Israel-Hamas ceasefire in Gaza confirmed by US and Qatar

Published:Wednesday | January 15, 2025 | 3:17 PM
President Joe Biden, center, with Vice President Kamala Harris, left, and Sec. of State Anthony Blinken, right, speaks in the Cross Hall of the White House on the announcement of a ceasefire deal in Gaza and the release of dozens of hostages after more tha
Evan Vucci
President Joe Biden, center, with Vice President Kamala Harris, left, and Sec. of State Anthony Blinken, right, speaks in the Cross Hall of the White House on the announcement of a ceasefire deal in Gaza and the release of dozens of hostages after more than 15 months of war, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire deal to pause the devastating war in the Gaza Strip, the United States and Qatar said Wednesday, raising the possibility of winding down the deadliest and most destructive fighting between the bitter enemies.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office did not confirm the deal, saying the final details were still being sorted out.

What to know:

• When would the deal take effect? Officials from the US and Qatar said the deal would begin on Sunday. Netanyahu’s office said in a statement that it hoped the final details of the deal would be worked out Wednesday night.

• What happens to the hostages? Nearly 100 people are still captive inside Gaza, and Israel’s military believes at least a third are dead. The three-phased agreement would begin with the release of 33 women, children, older adults and wounded civilians in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian women and children imprisoned by Israel. Soldiers and other male captives would be released in the second phase.

• What does the deal mean for the war? The agreement would bring relief to the hard-hit Gaza Strip, where Israel’s offensive has reduced large areas to rubble and displaced around 90% of the population of 2.3 million, many at risk of famine.

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