Israel Hamas Ceasefire Deal 2025

Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza, following 15 months of conflict, according to mediators Qatar and the US.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani announced that the agreement would take effect on Sunday, pending approval by the Israeli cabinet.

US President Joe Biden stated that the deal would “halt the fighting in Gaza, deliver much-needed humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians, and reunite hostages with their families.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged that the final details of the agreement were still being finalized, but he expressed gratitude to Biden for his involvement in facilitating it. Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya attributed the deal to the resilience of the Palestinian people.

While many Palestinians and families of Israeli hostages celebrated the announcement, the conflict in Gaza continues on the ground. The Hamas-run Civil Defence agency reported that Israeli airstrikes killed more than 20 people following the Qatari announcement, including 12 civilians in a residential building in Gaza City’s Sheikh Radwan neighborhood. The Israeli military has yet to comment on these claims.

Israel launched a campaign to dismantle Hamas—designated as a terrorist organization by Israel, the US, and others—following an unprecedented cross-border attack on October 7, 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.

Since then, over 46,700 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry. The humanitarian situation remains dire, with widespread displacement, destruction, and severe shortages of food, fuel, medicine, and shelter, as efforts to deliver aid to those in need have been hindered.

Israel currently reports that 94 hostages are still being held by Hamas, including 34 presumed dead. Additionally, four Israelis were abducted prior to the war, two of whom have since died.