Israel and Hamas have reached a deal to end hostilities that have raged between them for 15 months, as announced by various senior US officials.
During a confirmation hearing for Marco Rubio, who has been nominated by incoming President Donald Trump to serve as US Secretary of State, Senate Foreign Relations Committee chair Jim Risch briefly interrupted the proceedings to note he had just learned a ceasefire deal had been reached. “I’ve just been advised that there’s been a ceasefire announced in Gaza,” he said, before warning that celebrations should wait until it becomes clear whether the deal is executable.
Trump announced the ceasefire deal via his social media platform, lauding it as “epic,” and saying it “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.” He added: “I am thrilled American and Israeli hostages will be returning home to be reunited with their families and loved ones.”
Confirmed details of the agreement remained scant as of the time of writing, though the deal is broadly reported to be multiphasal, and to have attained the consent of both warring parties.
The Israel-Hamas war, which began on October 7, 2023, marks the most significant military engagement in the region since 1973 and the deadliest conflict in the history of the Israeli-Palestinian struggle. The conflict erupted when Hamas and allied militant groups launched a surprise attack on Israel, involving rocket barrages and thousands of militants breaching the Gaza-Israel barrier, resulting in approximately 1,200 Israeli and foreign national deaths and some 250 people taken hostage.
In response, Israel launched one of the most intensive bombing campaigns in modern history, followed by a ground invasion of Gaza with stated aims of destroying Hamas and freeing hostages. The conflict has resulted in tens of thousands of Palestinian casualties, widespread destruction of Gaza’s infrastructure and civilian facilities, and the displacement of nearly all of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents. The war has triggered significant international reactions, including worldwide protests calling for a ceasefire, legal challenges at international courts, and broader regional tensions.
This is a developing story.
