Reports from international news agencies and official statements from Israeli and Hamas authorities

Trump Announces Israel-Hamas Ceasefire: 33 Hostages to Be Released in Exchange for 1,000 Prisoners

Jan 15, 2025, 05:17 PM

Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire deal that includes the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza. President-elect Donald Trump announced the agreement on his Truth Social platform, stating, "We have a deal for the hostages in the Middle East. They will be released shortly." The breakthrough comes after 15 months of war in Gaza and just days before Trump's inauguration. Trump had earlier warned that "all hell will break out" if Hamas did not release the hostages before he took office. Under the terms of the deal, Hamas will release 33 hostages in exchange for Israel releasing approximately 1,000 Palestinian prisoners. The ceasefire is expected to last six weeks. Multiple sources, including US officials, have confirmed the agreement, and celebrations were reported in Gaza following the announcement.