Official announcements from the Israeli government or credible international news sources

Trump Announces Deal for Release of 33 Hostages and 1,000 Palestinian Prisoners Amid Israel-Hamas Ceasefire

Jan 15, 2025, 05:16 PM

President-elect Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that a deal has been reached for the release of 33 hostages in the Middle East. The agreement, which comes amid reports of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, will see the hostages released shortly, according to Trump's statement on Truth Social. The ceasefire deal, which has been in negotiation for months, is expected to end 15 months of fighting in Gaza. Sources indicate that the agreement includes the phased release of hostages and over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners, with the first group of hostages expected to be released as early as this weekend.