Israel and Hamas agree on ceasefire deal to exchange hostages and Palestinian prisoners

The conflict has also triggered solidarity attacks by Iran-backed proxies in Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen.

Israel and Hamas have reached an agreement to halt the ongoing fighting in Gaza and facilitate the exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, according to an official briefed on the deal, as reported by Reuters on January 15. This deal paves the way for a possible resolution to a 15-month-long war that has drastically altered the Middle East.

The agreement, which follows months of intermittent negotiations mediated by Egypt and Qatar with US backing, is set to be finalized just before the January 20 inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump. While not yet officially announced, the deal outlines an initial six-week ceasefire phase, during which Israeli forces will gradually withdraw, and hostages held by Hamas will be released in exchange for Palestinian detainees held by Israel, the Reuters report added.

The conflict escalated in October 2023 when Hamas-led gunmen breached Israeli security barriers, launching an attack on Israeli communities that killed 1,200 soldiers and civilians and abducted over 250 hostages. In retaliation, Israel invaded Gaza, where more than 46,000 people have been killed, according to Gaza's health ministry, with many survivors left living in tents or makeshift shelters amid widespread destruction.

As Trump's inauguration nears, he reiterated his demand for a swift resolution, warning of serious consequences if the hostages were not released. Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, worked closely with President Joe Biden’s team to bring the deal to fruition, the Reuters report added.

The potential return of the hostages could help ease public dissatisfaction in Israel over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's handling of the October 7 security failure, which led to the deadliest single day in the country’s history. The conflict has also triggered solidarity attacks by Iran-backed proxies in Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen.