Margaret Brennan of CBS News reported on Wednesday that Israel and Hamas had reached a ceasefire agreement and a hostage release agreement, which will put an end to more than a decade of combat in the Gaza Strip. CBS News was told by a source familiar with the negotiations that the Qatari Prime Minister had met with Hamas and Israeli negotiators at his office.
After a week-long intense negotiation, Qatar, the U.S.A. and Egypt mediated this deal.
As the news broke of the agreement, thousands gathered at Deir al Bala, Gaza. Gunfire was heard in celebration.
CBS News reported that Arab, U.S., and Israeli officials had in principle agreed on a draft deal earlier in the week.
Brett McGurk, President Biden’s Middle East advisor and top adviser, had been in Doha, Qatar, for the last few weeks. He stayed in the area for more than a month. McGurk worked closely with Steve Witkoff’s appointment as special Middle East envoy by President-elect Trump. Mr. Biden also spoke to Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, on the phone about the negotiations.
Families of the roughly 100 hostages who are still being held in Israel after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack that saw the group, and its militant allies, kill around 1,200 people have been holding regular protests, demanding a negotiated agreement for the freedom of their loved ones. IDF believes that around a third have died.
According to the Hamas run Gaza Health Ministry, more than 46,000 Palestinians have died in Israeli airstrikes. The majority of Gaza’s residents are displaced, living in camps. Humanitarian organizations have struggled to deliver aid and experts have warned about famine.
This breaking news story will be updated.
