President Joe Biden confirmed a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas in Gaza has been reached.
"It is long past time for the fighting to end and the work of building peace and security to begin," the president said in a statement on Wednesday.
The deal to pause the 15-month war includes the release of hostages held by Hamas. Hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel would be released in exchange.
However, the Office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu noted that "several items in the framework have yet to be finalized," adding they hope to have the details worked out shortly.
While the Biden administration has been working toward a ceasefire deal for months, President-elect Donald Trump took credit on social media.
"This EPIC ceasefire agreement could have only happened as a result of our Historic Victory in November, as it signaled to the entire World that my Administration would seek Peace and negotiate deals to ensure the safety of all Americans, and our Allies," he said in a post on Truth Social. "I am thrilled American and Israeli hostages will be returning home to be reunited with their families and loved ones. With this deal in place, my National Security team, through the efforts of Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, will continue to work closely with Israel and our Allies to make sure Gaza NEVER again becomes a terrorist safe haven."
The current and incoming administrations have been working together to reach a ceasefire deal — with Biden’s top Middle East advisor, Brett McGurk, and President-elect Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, both taking part.
The families of American hostages held in Gaza thanked both Biden and Trump for their work.
"We are deeply grateful that there is finally an agreement between Israel and Hamas to bring our loved ones — Omer, Edan, Sagui, Itay, Keith, Gad, and Judi — home. We have been waiting for 467 days while our family members suffer from life-threatening injuries, abuse, torture, and sexual violence," a statement from the families says.
President Joe Biden introduced the framework for the deal last year. The proposal included three phases. The first phase, which begins Sunday, includes a ceasefire, withdrawal of Israeli forces from populated areas, a surge in humanitarian assistance and the release of 33 hostages, including women, the elderly and those injured in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Phase two would require Hamas to return all remaining living hostages and Israel fully withdraw all troops from Gaza. The third and final phase would lay out a reconstruction plan for Gaza over the next half-decade and call for the return of any remaining bodies of hostages held by Hamas.
Scripps News confirmed that Israeli President Isaac Herzog met with the president of the International Red Cross to prepare for the transfer of hostages.
Merissa Khurma, director of the Middle East Program at The Wilson Center, said the coming days will be crucial.
"What is needed in the next few weeks is to ensure this deal holds to give much-needed respite to Palestinians who have lived horrific humanitarian conditions in the strip and to ensure all Israeli hostages are returned and the conflict comes to an end," she said. "This is a much-needed opening towards a long and arduous road to recovery, rehabilitation, rebuilding and hopefully peaceful reconciliation."
President Biden also acknowledged the urgency of the moment, emphasizing the need for an end to hostilities and a shift toward recovery.
"It is long past time for the fighting to end and the work of building peace and security to begin," he said.
Israel's war with Hamas began on October 7, 2023, when the terrorist organization launched a surprise attack, killing approximately 1,200 Israelis and taking around 250 hostages, some of whom have since died.
Health officials in Gaza report that more than 46,000 Palestinians, including many women and children, have been killed in retaliatory strikes.
