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Gaza ceasefire, hostage deal signed: report
The deal between Israel and Hamas to release hostages being held in Gaza and to finally bring an end to a 15-month war has been officially signed by negotiators in Doha, according to reports. LiveNOW's Andrew Craft discusses the latest in the Middle East with Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says a deal to return Hamas-held hostages in the Gaza Strip has been reached.
The announcement came a day after Netanyahu’s office said there were last minute snags in talks to free hostages in return for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of Palestinian prisoners.
FILE - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference in Jerusalem on Dec. 9, 2024. (Photo by MAYA ALLERUZZO/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
"The families of the hostages were informed a short while ago of the agreements by the Directorate for Hostages, Missing Persons, and Returnees in the Prime Minister’s Office," a statement from Netanyahu's office said. "Additionally, the Prime Minister instructed the Coordinator for Prisoners and Missing Persons to coordinate preparations for the reception of the hostages upon their return to Israel."
Currently, the Israeli government is set to vote on the measure on Saturday, which would delay the release of the first three hostages until Monday.
Ceasefire deal: What are the terms?
What we know:
Under the deal reached on Wednesday, 33 hostages are set to be released over the next six weeks in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. The remainder, including male soldiers, are to be released in a second phase that will be negotiated during the first. Hamas has said it will not release the remaining captives without a lasting ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal.
What we don't know:
While Netanyahu’s office on Thursday said the "last-minute crisis" with Hamas was holding up Israeli approval of the ceasefire agreement, it did not elaborate further on what had transpired.
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Netanyahu: ‘Last-minute crisis’ holding up approval
According to the Associated Press, a "last-minute crisis" with Hamas was holding up Israeli approval of a long-awaited agreement to pause the fighting in the Gaza Strip and release dozens of hostages, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday. The Israeli Cabinet was expected to vote on the deal Thursday, but Netanyahu’s office said they won’t meet until Hamas backs down, accusing it of reneging on parts of the agreement in an attempt to gain further concessions, without elaborating.
Strikes in Gaza since announcement of ceasefire deal
By the numbers:
Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip have killed at least 72 people since the ceasefire deal was announced, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Palestinians in Gaza reported heavy Israeli bombardment overnight as people were celebrating the ceasefire deal. In previous conflicts, both sides have stepped up military operations in the final hours before ceasefires go into effect as a way to project strength.
Gaza’s Health Ministry said the 48 bodies of people killed since midday Wednesday were brought to several hospitals. Around half of the dead were women and children, Zaher al-Wahedi, head of the ministry’s registration department, told The Associated Press.
Overall, Israel’s offensive has killed over 46,000 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Health Ministry. It does not say how many of the dead were militants. Israel says it has killed over 17,000 fighters, without providing evidence.
The Source: This story was reported citing information from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, Gaza's Health Ministry, The Associated Press and FOX News. It was reported from Cincinnati and Los Angeles.