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6 minutes ago

Israel-Gaza ceasefire live: Deal to begin on Sunday as Hamas accepts deal to release hostages

US president Joe Biden says he’s ‘deeply satisfied’ for people of Israel, hostage families and innocent people of Gaza

Bel Trew,Sam Kiley,Andrew Feinberg,Alex Croft
Wednesday 15 January 2025 22:20 GMT
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Related: Celebratory gunshots in Beirut after Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire brokered

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Hamas has accepted a ceasefire deal with Israel, bringing an end to 15 months of war that have ravaged Gaza, after months of negotiations brokered by Egyptian and Qatari mediators.

The deal, which is due to begin on Sunday, promises the release of dozens of hostages held by Hamas and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israel, and will allow hundreds of thousands of people displaced in Gaza to return to what remains of their homes.

A Hamas source said the group’s leader, Khalil Al Hayya, had delivered approval for the ceasefire agreement to mediators in Qatar.

A senior Biden administration official credited the presence of President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, as being critical to reaching the agreement.

President Joe Biden said: “I’m deeply satisfied this day has finally come for the sake of the people of Israel and the families waiting in agony, for the sake of the innocent people in Gaza, who suffered unimaginable devastation because of the war.”

The three-phase deal will begin with “a full and complete ceasefire, withdrawal of Israeli forces from all the populated areas of Gaza, and the release of a number of hostages held by Hamas, including women and elderly and the wounded” over six weeks, Mr Biden said.

6 minutes ago

Ceasefire came because we shifted approach - Biden administration official

The US shifted its approach towards the Middle East in September, a senior official from the Biden administration has said.

Israel decided to focus on Lebanon rather than on a hostage deal in Gaza, the official said. As long as the former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah remained in power, Israel was “never going to get a ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza”, they added.

They described Israel’s campaign in Lebanon as “extraordinarily successful”, describing the “new political configuration” in Lebanon as “extraordinary”.

“On November 27 the Lebanon ceasefire went into effect. That led to December, which we returned to the table for the ceasefire hostage release talks in Gaza and a significantly changed equation in the Middle East,” the official added.

Andrew Feinberg, White House Correspondent15 January 2025 22:20
24 minutes ago

Gaza ceasefire must trigger massive aid expansion - Norwegian Refugee Council

The Gaza ceasefire must lead to a lasting truce and prompt a huge aid expansion, the secretary general of the Norwegian Refugee Council Jan Egeland said.

“At long last we have a deal that must end the 15 months of relentless death, destruction, displacement, detention, and the holding of hostages.

“We call on the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom and other nations to make sure Israel does keep all crossings open, enabling a sustained flow of aid that can alleviate further suffering.

“These hostilities have destabilised the Middle East and exposed millions of civilians to unrelenting violence. The Gaza ceasefire must not only introduce a lasting cessation of hostilities, but a firm commitment to international law, including accountability for war crimes.

“To end the cycle of violence, the international community must address the root causes of this decades-long conflict and pursue a just resolution in alignment with international law.”

Bel Trew, Chief International Correspondent15 January 2025 22:02
32 minutes ago

Islamic Relief: ‘The big test is what happens next’

Islamic Relief has welcomed a “rare moment of hope” after “15 months of unprecedented and relentless atrocities”.

But it says that the “big test will be what happens next, whether it is adhered to, and whether a temporary pause becomes permanent”.

“For almost 500 days Israel has carried out daily massacres, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and starvation against Palestinian civilians in Gaza, as pleas for a ceasefire have been ignored,” the organisation said.

“Even as these negotiations entered the final stage, dozens more Palestinians have been killed in just the past 24 hours as Israeli bombs continued to rain down on shelters.

“We pray this stops now. It’s vital that this agreement is now fully and immediately implemented, and that the initial temporary pause becomes a permanent ceasefire.”

Bel Trew, Chief International Correspondent15 January 2025 21:54
41 minutes ago

‘Joyful atmosphere’ as Palestinian celebrations continue

Palestinian celebrations continue following the agreement of a ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel.

Other footage shows fireworks being set off in Bethlehem, with the ceasefire set to be in place from Sunday.

Alex Croft15 January 2025 21:45
42 minutes ago

Amnesty International: Ceasefire ‘bitterly overdue’

The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is “bitterly overdue”, the secretary general of Amnesty International Agnès Callamard has said.

“The news that a ceasefire deal has been reached will bring some glimmer of relief to Palestinians victims of Israel’s genocide. But it is bitterly overdue.

“For Palestinians who have lost countless loved ones; in many cases had their entire families wiped out or seen their homes reduced to rubble, an end to the fighting does not begin to repair their shattered lives or heal their trauma.

“The release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian detainees will bring relief to families in Israel and across the Occupied Palestinian Territory but likewise will not erase the ordeals they have suffered in captivity.

“Israel must dismantle the brutal system of apartheid it imposes to dominate and oppress Palestinians and end its unlawful occupation of the Occupied Palestinian Territory once and for all.”

Bel Trew, Chief International Correspondent15 January 2025 21:44
59 minutes ago

Hamas captivity survivor makes ceasefire plea: 'No one should be left behind'

Hamas captivity survivor makes ceasefire plea: 'No one should be left behind'
Alex Croft15 January 2025 21:27
1 hour ago

‘I made it’, says Palestinian journalist

Alex Croft15 January 2025 21:11
1 hour ago

David Lammy: ‘A moment of hope after a year of agony’

David Lammy has described the ceasefire agreement as a “moment of hope after over a year of agony”.

The people of Gaza have suffered a “living nightmare” while hostages and their loved ones have faced “unbearable trauma”, he said.

“I pay tribute to the tireless diplomatic efforts of Qatar, Egypt and the incoming and outgoing US administrations,” Mr Lammy added.

“Much remains to be done – to implement this in full to all phases of the deal and establish a pathway to lasting peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians alike.

“We will play our full part in the coming days and weeks, working alongside our partners, to seize this chance for a better future.”

Alex Croft15 January 2025 20:57
1 hour ago

Watch: Emotional scenes as Palestinians celebrate ceasefire in Gaza

Crowds of joyful Palestinians took to the streets in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis on Wednesday (15 January) after Israel and Hamas agreed a ceasefire.

Residents in the city were seen lighting fires and flares in celebration and dancing and cheering on the streets.

The deal, coming after weeks of painstaking negotiations in the Qatari capital, promises the release of dozens of hostages held by Hamas in phases, the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israel and would allow hundreds of thousands of people displaced in Gaza to return to what remains of their homes.

Palestinians take to streets of Gaza's Khan Younis to celebrate Hamas ceasefire

Crowds of joyful Palestinians took to the streets in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis on Wednesday (15 January) after Israel and Hamas agreed a ceasefire. Residents in the city were seen lighting fires and flares in celebration and dancing and cheering on the streets. The deal, coming after weeks of painstaking negotiations in the Qatari capital, promises the release of dozens of hostages held by Hamas in phases, the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israel and would allow hundreds of thousands of people displaced in Gaza to return to what remains of their homes.

Lucy Leeson15 January 2025 20:42
1 hour ago

Trump credited with breakthrough as officials slam Biden’s inaction

Trump credited for ceasefire breakthrough as former US officials slam Biden inaction

Officials said breakthrough came when Trump applied pressure on Israeli government, something Biden was unwilling to do

Jane Dalton15 January 2025 20:28

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