Middle East latest: Israel and Hamas agree to a Gaza ceasefire, mediators say
By The Associated Press
Multiple officials say Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire in Gaza and the release dozens of hostages after more than 15 months of war.
In the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, large crowds of joyful Palestinians have taken to the streets, with people cheering and honking car horns.
Any deal is expected to pause the fighting and bring hopes for winding down the most deadly and destructive war Israel and Hamas have ever fought, a conflict that has destabilized the Middle East and sparked worldwide protests.
Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza began on Oct. 7, 2023, when militants stormed into southern Israel and killed about 1,200 people and abducted around 250. A third of the 100 hostages still held in Gaza are believed to be dead.
The Israel Hamas-war has killed more than 46,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to health authorities there. The Health Ministry does not distinguish between fighters and civilians, but says women and children make up more than half the fatalities.
Here's the latest:
Israeli airstrike in the West Bank kills 4 people, medics say
RAMALLAH, West Bank: The Palestinian Health Ministry says an Israeli airstrike in the occupied West Bank has killed four people.
It said the strike occurred Wednesday in Jenin, an epicenter of Israeli-Palestinian violence in recent years. An airstrike in Jenin on Tuesday killed six people. The Israeli military has carried out frequent raids into Jenin targeting militants, often igniting gunbattles.
The Western-backed Palestinian Authority has also been carrying out a rare crackdown on militants in Jenin in recent weeks.
The West Bank has seen a surge in violence since Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack out of Gaza triggered the war there.
Trump cheers for the hostage release and ceasefire deal
WASHINGTON — U.S. President-elect Donald Trump celebrated the soon-to-be-announced ceasefire and hostage release agreement between Israel and Hamas in a post on his Truth Social social media platform.
“WE HAVE A DEAL FOR THE HOSTAGES IN THE MIDDLE EAST. THEY WILL BE RELEASED SHORTLY. THANK YOU!” Trump wrote.
Trump's incoming Mideast envoy had joined Biden’s Mideast adviser for the talks in Doha.
Trump also claimed credit for the agreement being reached.
“This EPIC ceasefire agreement 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,” Trump wrote on social media. “I am thrilled American and Israeli hostages will be returning home to be reunited with their families and loved ones.”
Trump last week had vowed “all hell” would break loose on Hamas if a deal wasn’t reached before his inauguration next week.
Trump in his posting added that his incoming Mideast envoy, Steve Witkoff, would continue “to work closely with Israel and our Allies to make sure Gaza NEVER again becomes a terrorist safe haven.”
His incoming national security adviser, Rep. Mike Waltz, in his own posting on X also credited Trump calling the development, “The Trump Effect.”
Palestinians and Israelis react to ceasefire deal
KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip — In the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, large crowds of joyful Palestinians have taken to the streets, with people cheering and honking car horns.
Ashraf Sahwiel, a displaced man from Gaza City, told the AP by phone that people are celebrating the announcement Wednesday evening that Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire.
“People are happy after the suffering they’ve seen for more than a year. We hope it gets implemented,” said Sahwiel, who is currently living in a tent in Deir al-Balah with five family members.
He added everyone has been closely following the negotiations the past few days, “even children who have hope and happiness about going back home.”
As the deal was announced, “hostages square” in Tel Aviv was calm, with some Israelis unaware that it had gone through.
Sharone lifschitz, whose father Oded is being held hostage told the AP by phone she was stunned and grateful but won’t believe it until she sees them come home.
“I can’t wait to see them coming back to their families I’m so desperate to see them if by some miracle my father has survived,” she said.
Now it’s up to everyone not to sabotage it, she said.
Some people whose friends are being held hostage said they won’t trust the deal until all the hostages returned.
“I don’t trust Hamas, don’t trust them at all to bring them back,” said Vered Froner. She and her mother hid in a safe room for 17 hours in Nachal Oz kibbutz during the Oct. 7, 2023 attack by Hamas.
She said she’d prefer to have had all of the hostages return at once rather than a phased approach.
US officials confirm a ceasefire deal is reached between Israel and Hamas
WASHINGTON — A deal has been reached between Israel and Hamas that will see some hostages freed and the pause war in Gaza, three US officials confirmed to The Associated Press.
One official said that it was expected that the ceasefire would be implemented in the coming days. All three requested anonymity to discuss the contours of the deal before the official announcement by mediators in Doha.
President Joe Biden was preparing to address the breakthrough agreement later Thursday, officials said.