Cease-Fire Deal Reached, Hostage Release Expected Sunday: Netanyahu

Supporters and family members of hostages kidnapped during the deadly October 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Hamas, protest ahead of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in Tel Aviv, Israel, January 16, 2025. REUTERS/Shir Torem

A cease-fire deal has been reached by Israeli and Hamas officials, which includes the release of hostages held by Hamas, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office on Friday.

The Israeli leader was informed by his negotiating team about the agreement on Friday, his office said in a statement. Netanyahu has instructed his Security Cabinet to convene, with the government expected to approve the deal after the cabinet meeting, it said.

Later, after hours of uncertainty over the timing of the final cabinet approval, the prime minister’s office said that the deal is expected to begin as originally scheduled on Sunday.

“Pending approval by the Security Cabinet and the Government, and the agreement taking effect, the release of the hostages will be implemented according to the planned framework in which the hostages are expected to be released on Sunday,” it said in a statement.

Netanyahu has directed a special task force to coordinate preparations for receiving the hostages upon their return to Israel. Families of the hostages have also been informed of the agreement reached with terrorist group Hamas.

“The State of Israel is committed to achieving all of the objectives of the war including the return of all of our hostages, the living and the deceased,” his office stated.

The Israeli Cabinet was initially scheduled to meet on the morning of Jan. 16 to ratify the deal, which was later delayed due to last-minute issues from the Hamas side. Netanyahu’s office said on Thursday that Hamas reneged “on parts of the agreement reached with the mediators and Israel in an effort to extort last-minute concessions.”

In response, Hamas leader Sami Abu Zuhri rejected Netanyahu’s claims and urged the U.S. government to oblige the Israelis to implement the cease-fire agreement.

The agreement includes a three-phase cease-fire in the Gaza Strip and the release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners.

Netanyahu has thanked both President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump for their efforts in advancing the release of Israeli hostages. His office stated on Thursday that Netanyahu and Trump were planning to meet in Washington in the near future for a discussion on the Gaza conflict.

“The Prime Minister made it clear that he is committed to returning all of the hostages however he can, and commended the US President-elect for his remarks that the US would work with Israel to ensure that Gaza will never be a haven for terrorism,” the office stated on Jan. 15.

The cease-fire, set to be enforced on Sunday, would allow more humanitarian aid to enter the Gaza Strip. The first phase will involve the release of 33 Israeli hostages in return for an unspecified number of Palestinian prisoners. Israel will also withdraw toward the east, pulling its armed forces away from the populated areas. Negotiations on the second and third phases will take place at a later stage.

The U.S. Department of Defense stated that “portions of the arrangement remain sensitive,” and that both Israel and Hamas have agreed to maintain open channels of communication for “further confidence-building measures.” As part of the agreement, Hamas will be required to halt its rocket attacks against Israel during the cease-fire period.

“Israelis and Palestinians need not be doomed to eternal conflict, and with leadership and wisdom, we can make progress toward the day when Israelis and Palestinians live side by side in peace and security in two sovereign states, with mutual security and dignity,” Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin said in a statement on Thursday.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who mediated between Israel and Hamas, has said that the success of the cease-fire deal would depend on Israel and Hamas “acting in good faith in order to ensure that this agreement does not collapse.”

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) launched its military operation in Gaza after Hamas-led terrorists carried out widespread attacks on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. More than 1,100 people were killed, thousands injured, and 250 taken hostage during that attack.

The Hamas-controlled Gaza health department said that Israel’s ground offensive in Gaza has led to more than 46,600 deaths to date. The department does not distinguish between civilians and terrorists.

The IDF previously said its operations killed more than 17,000 terrorists. Many civilians were killed, the IDF said, because Hamas fighters used them as human shields in residential areas, shelters, schools, and hospitals.

Chris Summers, Dan M. Berger and Reuters contributed to this report.