After weeks of intense conflict, a ceasefire agreement has been reached between Hamas and Israel, bringing to an end the deadliest war in Gaza's history. President-elect Donald Trump took credit for the deal, claiming hostages held by Hamas 'WILL BE RELEASED SHORTLY.' While the U.S. and Israeli governments have yet to publicly confirm the agreement, progress towards a ceasefire is reported, with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar returning to Israel for crucial discussions.
A source within the Palestinian Hamas movement has revealed to Newsweek that a long-awaited ceasefire agreement has been reached with Israel , bringing to an end the deadliest and longest-ever war in the Gaza Strip. The Hamas source stated that the group will address the agreement in an upcoming announcement.
Shortly after this revelation, President-elect Donald Trump took to his Truth Social platform on Wednesday to declare 'WE HAVE A DEAL,' claiming credit for the agreement and asserting that hostages held by Hamas 'WILL BE RELEASED SHORTLY.' Newsweek has reached out to the Israeli Prime Minister's Office, the Israeli Consulate General in New York, and the White House for comment. However, neither the U.S. nor Israeli governments have publicly confirmed the existence of a ceasefire agreement at this time. The Israeli Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday that Foreign Minister Gideon Saar had cut short his trip to Europe 'following the progress in the hostage release negotiations' and 'will return to Israel tonight to participate in the expected discussions and votes in the Security Cabinet and government,' according to a statement released by several media outlets.President Joe Biden has been actively pushing for a breakthrough on a three-phase proposal he first outlined in May. As the final weeks of his administration progressed, the effort gained significant momentum, fueled by Trump's increasingly urgent calls for a deal to be finalized before his inauguration, scheduled for next Monday, warning that otherwise 'all hell will break out in the Middle East.' Both Biden and Trump have indicated in recent days that negotiations between Israel and Hamas were nearing completion, echoing sentiments expressed by the Qatari Foreign Ministry, which has been hosting talks in its capital, Doha. The war erupted on October 7, 2023, following a surprise attack led by Hamas against Israel. Iran and factions of its Axis of Resistance coalition joined the conflict, launching attacks on Israel from Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen. Israeli officials estimate that approximately 1,200 people, primarily civilians, were killed during the initial Hamas-led assault and subsequent attacks by allied Palestinian factions in Gaza. Dozens more fatalities have resulted from rocket, missile, and drone strikes conducted by Hamas and Iran-aligned groups, particularly the Lebanese Hezbollah movement, which signed a 60-day ceasefire with Israel on November 27 of last year. Out of the 251 hostages seized by Hamas at the conflict's outset, 98 are believed to remain in the group's custody. The Palestinian Health Ministry based in Gaza has recorded over 46,600 deaths throughout the war, predominantly among women, children, and elderly individuals, although the records do not differentiate between combatants and non-combatants. The Lebanese Health Ministry has documented more than 4,000 deaths since Israel initiated airstrikes and subsequently launched a ground incursion into Lebanon, without distinguishing between civilians and fighters. Reports also indicate that hundreds of Syrians have been killed in Israeli operations during the broader conflict.
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