In a significant development, Israel and Hamas have reached an agreement for a cease-fire that will halt hostilities in Gaza for six weeks, facilitating the release of both hostages and Palestinian prisoners, as confirmed by President Joe Biden on Wednesday afternoon.
During a press briefing with Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken by his side, Biden announced that Hamas, along with its militant allies, is expected to release 33 hostages taken from Israel during the assaults on October 7, 2023. The initial group of hostages is anticipated to include women, children, and elderly individuals who have been held captive for over a year and are still alive.
The first phase of this agreement will not only enforce a complete ceasefire but will also require Israeli forces to withdraw from densely populated areas in Gaza. Additionally, this phase will see the planned release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
Biden elaborated that the second phase of the agreement will focus on securing the release of remaining hostages in Gaza, including male soldiers, as well as the full withdrawal of Israeli troops from the region.
“This is a very positive afternoon,” Biden remarked, acknowledging the complexities involved in achieving this deal.
He also mentioned that his administration collaborated with advisors from the previous Trump administration to finalize the agreement. “The implementation will largely fall to the next administration,” Biden noted. “Over the past few days, we have been united as one team.”
As news of the ceasefire deal began circulating Wednesday morning, President-elect Donald Trump shared his thoughts on the matter via his social media platform, Truth Social, stating, “WE HAVE A DEAL FOR THE HOSTAGES IN THE MIDDLE EAST. THEY WILL BE RELEASED SHORTLY. THANK YOU!”

Hamas plans to release three hostages on the first day of the ceasefire, followed by another four on the seventh day, as reported by the Associated Press. Subsequent releases will occur weekly, with the initial group of 33 hostages including five female Israeli soldiers, each to be exchanged for 50 Palestinian detainees, among whom are 30 militants serving life sentences.
In a statement earlier on Wednesday, Biden attributed the successful negotiation to several factors, including the “intense pressure on Hamas,” the “diminished influence of Iran” in the area, and “persistent and detailed American diplomacy.”
This announcement comes amid distressing reports from UNICEF indicating that at least 74 children lost their lives in the Gaza Strip during the initial week of 2025.
“Children have tragically been killed in numerous mass casualty incidents, particularly during nighttime strikes in Gaza City, Khan Younis, and Al Mawasi, a designated ‘safe zone’ in the southern region,” UNICEF reported. “The latest incident occurred yesterday, resulting in the deaths of five children in Al Mawasi.”
Biden indicated that the third phase of the agreement would focus on a “comprehensive reconstruction initiative” for Gaza, as well as ensuring the return of any remains of hostages who were killed.
However, some Israeli officials have warned that the finer details of the agreement are still being finalized, as stated by the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.