Thirty-three Israeli hostages are expected to be released from Hamas, mediators announced, after a deal was reached to pause the fighting.
The release of the hostages comes as part of an agreement — the first phase of which is set to include a 42-day ceasefire — finalized on Wednesday, Jan. 15, according to The Associated Press. The agreement, negotiated in Doha, Qatar, pauses the 15-month-long fighting in Gaza, which began with Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
Three officials from the United States and one from Hamas stated that the deal is finalized, though an Israeli official claimed there are details yet to be ironed out, the AP reported.
CNN reports that Israel plans to enact the deal immediately after finalization — which seems imminent, the senior Israeli official said on Monday, Jan. 13.
The official told reporters that their government believes most of the 33 hostages are alive, though the return of bodies of the deceased will likely also be a part of the first phase of the deal.
Hamas has reportedly taken a total of 251 hostages since its initial attack, with 91 presently remaining in captivity. Of the 91, at least 34 are dead, the Israeli government stated.
President Joe Biden shared hopeful remarks about the agreement on Monday, stating that the United States is working hard to help finalize the deal before his term ends on Monday, Jan. 20.
“The deal we have structured would free the hostages, halt the fighting, provide security to Israel, and allow us to significantly surge humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians who suffered terribly in this war that Hamas started,” Biden said, adding, “They have been through hell.”
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Now that the first phase of the deal — the release of hostages over a 42-day ceasefire — has been finalized, negotiations for the second phase are expected to begin on the 16th day of the ceasefire.
The second phase is intended to end the war, CNN reports.
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