A tentative agreement between Israel and Hamas has brought an end to 15 months of brutal war in Gaza, with both sides agreeing to release hostages and cease hostilities. The deal’s first six weeks will see Israel withdraw from much of the enclave and release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Hamas releasing 33 captive Israelis – some living, some dead.
While the agreement is fragile, it marks a victory for Presidents Joe Biden and Donald Trump’s foreign policy teams, who worked together with regional partners Qatar and Egypt to broker the deal. The terms echo a proposal made by Biden in May 2024, but Trump’s campaign stance on Israel may have helped deliver the outcome: Hamas could assume it wouldn’t get a better deal under Trump, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s hard-right government likely agreed to the arrangement to maintain good relations with the new president. The accord must still be ratified by the Israeli cabinet, and its aftermath will be traumatic for Gazan refugees and families of hostages, who will soon discover whether their homes and loved ones are safe.
Source: https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2025/01/israel-hamas-gaza-ceasefire-biden-trump/681325