Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Hamas Accepts Draft Agreement for Gaza Ceasefire, Release of Hostages: Officials
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 4 weeks ago on
January 14, 2025

Destroyed buildings by Israeli bombardments are seen inside the Gaza Strip from southern Israel, on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. (AP/Tsafrir Abayov)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

CAIRO — Hamas has accepted a draft agreement for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of dozens of hostages, two officials involved in the talks said Tuesday.

Mediators for the United States and Qatar said Israel and the Palestinian militant group were at the closest point yet to sealing a deal to bring them a step closer to ending 15 months of war.

The Associated Press obtained a copy of the proposed agreement, and an Egyptian official and a Hamas official confirmed its authenticity. An Israeli official said progress has been made, but the details are being finalized. All three officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the talks.

‘I Believe We Will Get a Ceasefire,’ Blinken Says

“I believe we will get a ceasefire,” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during a speech Tuesday, asserting it was up to Hamas. “It’s right on the brink. It’s closer than it’s ever been before,” and word could come within hours, or days.

The United States, Egypt and Qatar have spent the past year trying to mediate an end to the war and secure the release of dozens of hostages captured in Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack that triggered it. Nearly 100 people are still captive inside Gaza, and the military believes at least a third are dead.

Any deal is expected to pause the fighting and bring hopes for winding down the most deadly and destructive war Israel and Hamas have ever fought, a conflict that has destabilized the Middle East and sparked worldwide protests.

It would bring relief to the hard-hit Gaza Strip, where Israel’s offensive has reduced large areas to rubble and displaced around 90% of the population of 2.3 million, many at risk of famine.

Plan Needs Israel’s Approval

If a deal is reached, it would not go into effect immediately. The plan would need approval from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Security Cabinet and then his full Cabinet. Netanyahu allies dominate both and are likely to approve any proposal he presents.

Officials have have expressed optimism before, only for negotiations to stall while the warring sides blamed each other. But they now suggest they can agree ahead of the Jan. 20 inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, whose Mideast envoy has joined the negotiations.

Hamas said in a statement that negotiations had reached their “final stage.”

Hostage Release Demonstrators
Demonstrators hold torches during a protest calling for the immediate release of the hostages held in the Gaza Strip by the Hamas militant group in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (AP/Ohad Zwigenberg)

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Here’s What We Know About a Commuter Plane Crash in Alaska That Killed 10 People

DON'T MISS

Trump’s 3rd Week: More Executive Orders, a Trade War That Wasn’t, and a Mideast Jolt

DON'T MISS

UMass Will Pay Student Who Made Half-Court Shot $10,000 Even Though His Foot Was on Line

DON'T MISS

Trump Is Signing Up Local Law Officers to Help With Immigration Enforcement

DON'T MISS

Judge Blocks Trump From Placing Thousands of USAID Workers on Leave

DON'T MISS

Federal Judge Blocks Musk’s DOGE From Accessing Sensitive Treasury Department Data

DON'T MISS

Rookies for Eagles and Chiefs Could Play a Key Role in the Super Bowl

DON'T MISS

Sony PlayStation Network Outage Enrages Gamers Around the World

DON'T MISS

Trump Says He’s Firing Kennedy Center Board Members, Naming Himself Chairman

DON'T MISS

PJ Pickles, the Pajama-Clad Pup, Want to Join Your Loving Home

UP NEXT

Trump’s 3rd Week: More Executive Orders, a Trade War That Wasn’t, and a Mideast Jolt

UP NEXT

UMass Will Pay Student Who Made Half-Court Shot $10,000 Even Though His Foot Was on Line

UP NEXT

Trump Is Signing Up Local Law Officers to Help With Immigration Enforcement

UP NEXT

Judge Blocks Trump From Placing Thousands of USAID Workers on Leave

UP NEXT

Federal Judge Blocks Musk’s DOGE From Accessing Sensitive Treasury Department Data

UP NEXT

Rookies for Eagles and Chiefs Could Play a Key Role in the Super Bowl

UP NEXT

Sony PlayStation Network Outage Enrages Gamers Around the World

UP NEXT

Trump Says He’s Firing Kennedy Center Board Members, Naming Himself Chairman

UP NEXT

PJ Pickles, the Pajama-Clad Pup, Want to Join Your Loving Home

UP NEXT

Newsom Signs $50M Plan to Battle Trump Policies, Support Immigrants

Trump Is Signing Up Local Law Officers to Help With Immigration Enforcement

5 hours ago

Judge Blocks Trump From Placing Thousands of USAID Workers on Leave

5 hours ago

Federal Judge Blocks Musk’s DOGE From Accessing Sensitive Treasury Department Data

6 hours ago

Rookies for Eagles and Chiefs Could Play a Key Role in the Super Bowl

6 hours ago

Sony PlayStation Network Outage Enrages Gamers Around the World

6 hours ago

Trump Says He’s Firing Kennedy Center Board Members, Naming Himself Chairman

6 hours ago

PJ Pickles, the Pajama-Clad Pup, Want to Join Your Loving Home

6 hours ago

Newsom Signs $50M Plan to Battle Trump Policies, Support Immigrants

21 hours ago

Fresno Students Entering the Work World Need Your Help to ‘Dress the Part’

21 hours ago

Hanford Shooting Leaves One Dead, Another in Critical Condition

21 hours ago

Here’s What We Know About a Commuter Plane Crash in Alaska That Killed 10 People

JUNEAU, Alaska — Authorities are working to recover the wreckage of a plane crash in western Alaska that killed 10 people while investigator...

3 hours ago

3 hours ago

Here’s What We Know About a Commuter Plane Crash in Alaska That Killed 10 People

4 hours ago

Trump’s 3rd Week: More Executive Orders, a Trade War That Wasn’t, and a Mideast Jolt

5 hours ago

UMass Will Pay Student Who Made Half-Court Shot $10,000 Even Though His Foot Was on Line

5 hours ago

Trump Is Signing Up Local Law Officers to Help With Immigration Enforcement

5 hours ago

Judge Blocks Trump From Placing Thousands of USAID Workers on Leave

6 hours ago

Federal Judge Blocks Musk’s DOGE From Accessing Sensitive Treasury Department Data

6 hours ago

Rookies for Eagles and Chiefs Could Play a Key Role in the Super Bowl

6 hours ago

Sony PlayStation Network Outage Enrages Gamers Around the World

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend