BREAKING: Israel, Hamas agree to ceasefire, prisoner swap initiated

Israel and Hamas have reached an agreement to pause the fighting in Gaza and carry out a prisoner swap. Qatar’s prime minister confirmed the deal.

The temporary ceasefire is set to begin on Sunday. In the first stage of the deal, Hamas will release 33 hostages, while Israel will free hundreds of Palestinian prisoners from its jails.

US President Joe Biden announced the agreement and hinted that discussions will extend beyond this initial truce. He mentioned the possibility of working towards “a permanent end to the war.”
The release of hostages is just the first step. Negotiations for the second phase, which aims to end the conflict altogether, are expected to begin after the 16th day of the truce.

This agreement marks a significant moment in the ongoing crisis, with hopes of moving closer to lasting peace.

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden has highlighted the cooperation between his team and President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration in securing a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.

Speaking on Wednesday, Biden explained that his administration negotiated the deal, but much of its implementation would fall to Trump’s team once they take office.

“This agreement was developed during my administration, but its terms will mostly be carried out by the next one,” Biden said, acknowledging the efforts of Trump’s transition team.

“In recent days, we’ve worked together as one team,” Biden added. “The Middle East is going through a challenging time, but as I prepare to leave office, our allies remain strong, our adversaries are weakened, and there are real opportunities for a better future.”

According to CNN, Brett McGurk, Biden’s top Middle East envoy, worked closely with Steve Witkoff, Trump’s appointed envoy to the region, during the final stages of negotiations. Officials from Biden’s administration emphasised that Witkoff’s involvement was crucial in finalising the agreement.

(BBC)