Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire deal that also provides for the release of hostages, Fox News has confirmed.
“The agreement on the ceasefire in Gaza and the release of the hostages was reached after the Qatari prime minister met with Hamas negotiators and specifically with Israeli negotiators in his office,” a source familiar with the matter told Fox News.
Separately, a senior Hamas official confirmed to Fox News that a deal had been reached.
The conflict, which began with brutal attacks by Hamas on October 7, 2023, has left more than 1,200 Israelis dead, more than 250 taken as hostagesand thousands more killed on both sides.
The deal, brokered by Qatari negotiators and facilitated by Egyptian mediators, also saw significant involvement from the United States. Both the outgoing Biden administration and the incoming Trump administration have exerted strategic pressure to finalize the deal, despite concerns about the rearmament of Hamas and internal tensions within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition.
Sources told Fox News Digital that a meeting over the weekend between Netanyahu and Trump’s new Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, led to the breakthrough. Witkoff’s assurances reportedly convinced Netanyahu to accept the deal, despite threats from the right-wing party to withdraw from the coalition if it is adopted.
ISRAEL-HAMAS Cease-Fire Inching Closer Amid Concerns of Re-Arming of Gaza Terrorist Group
(Noam Galai/Getty Images)
The agreement calls for the release of three hostages on the first day, followed by weekly groups. Women, children and men over 50 will be prioritized initially, and younger men will be included later in humanitarian cases. Hostage status updates will alternate between announcements from survivors and confirmations from those who did not survive captivity.
The execution of the operation relies on extensive coordination between the IDF, the Shin Bet, the Israeli police, the Ministry of Health, the International Red Cross and the Egyptian authorities. Over the course of 42 days, 33 Israeli hostages are expected to be released. The early stages will focus on civilian women, children and female soldiers, followed by older men. The last hostage in this group is scheduled to be released on the 42nd day.
HAMAS ACCEPTED DRAFT AGREEMENT FOR CEASEFIRE IN GAZA, RELEASE OF HOSTAGES: OFFICIALS
Prime Minister Netanyahu met with the special envoy of the newly elected US President Donald Trump for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff. (Photo by the Prime Minister’s Media Adviser)
On the sixteenth day, the second phase begins, which will deal with the release of younger men, soldiers and the return of the remains. Netanyahu assured the families of the hostages that every prisoner was included in the deal. About 1,000 Palestinian prisoners will be freed in the exchange, and those convicted of murder are barred from returning to the West Bank. Instead, they will be sent to Gaza, Qatar or Turkey.
The ceasefire will also allow significant humanitarian aid to Gaza, with up to 600 truckloads of supplies entering daily. By the 22nd, displaced residents will be allowed to return to northern Gaza. Qatari and Egyptian teams will manage vehicle inspections, while no checks will be required at pedestrian crossings. The IDF will withdraw from Nitzarim Corridor but maintain a limited presence along the Philadelphia Route.
Israeli soldiers stand at the entrance to a tunnel leading to Egypt amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in the Gaza Strip, in the Philadelphia Corridor area of southern Gaza, September 13, 2024. REUTERS/Amir Cohen (REUTERS/Amir Cohen)
Although intelligence on the condition of the hostages remains limited, estimates indicate that most of them are alive. Before each phase of the release, Israel will receive updates on their identities and health status. The International Red Cross will oversee their transfer from Gaza to Israel, ensuring their safety while dealing with logistical challenges such as crowd control.
Upon entering Israel, the hostages will undergo an identity check and initial interrogation by Shin Bet and the IDF. Medical teams stationed at the border will provide emergency care, and those requiring further treatment will be airlifted to hospitals. After the necessary care is provided, the hostages will be reunited with their families.
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Israeli security forces prepare for various contingencies to ensure the success of the operation while maintaining stability. The coming weeks will be marked by tension and emotion as families and the nation await the return of those captured, including seven Americans, in this long-running conflict.
