2025 Gaza war ceasefire

This page is subject to the extended confirmed restriction related to the Arab-Israeli conflict.

This page is subject to the extended confirmed restriction related to the Arab-Israeli conflict.

A proposed armistice and hostages/prisoners exchange to end the Gaza war was agreed to by Israel and Hamas on 15 January 2025, and came into effect on 19 January. The proposal was first drafted by mediators from the United States, Egypt and Qatar, accepted by Hamas on 5 May 2024 and presented by U.S. president Joe Biden on 31 May.^[1] By January 2025, a similar proposal had been agreed to by both Israel and Hamas. The proposal is a serial initiative in three stages, beginning with a six-week ceasefire, the release of all Israelis being held hostage in Gaza in exchange for some of the Palestinians being held by Israel, a permanent ceasefire, Israel's withdrawal from Gaza, and a reconstruction process lasting from three to five years.

During the first stage, Hamas would release thirty-three Israelis (mostly children and women), in exchange for Israel releasing 30–50 Palestinians (starting with children and women) for every Israeli released. During the first stage, Israel would have to allow "sufficient" quantities of humanitarian aid, allow displaced Palestinians to return to their homes and start to make a phased withdrawal from Gaza.^[2] During the first stage ceasefire, talks would begin between both parties for a more permanent cessation of hostilities. In the second stage, Israel would accept a permanent ceasefire and Hamas would then release the remaining living male hostages, both civilians and soldiers, for an exchange of Palestinian prisoners.^[2] In the third stage, the remains of deceased Israeli hostages would be released. Under the 5 May proposal Israel would commit to lifting the blockade on the Gaza Strip,^[3][2] but this commitment was not present in the 31 May proposal.^[4]

On 10 June, the United Nations Security Council supported the proposal as Resolution 2735.^[5][6] In late-June 2024, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated Israel was open only to a partial ceasefire that did not include ending the war in Gaza.^[7] On one hand, the Netanyahu administration was accused of sabotaging ceasefire talks.^[8] On the other hand, top U.S. officials John Kirby and Antony Blinken accuse Hamas of hindering progress and constantly causing the failures to reach a hostages deal and ceasefire.^[9][10][11]

The deal was achieved through negotiations mediated by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar. CNN reported that both the Biden administration and U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's incoming administration played equal roles, with the role of the former administration facilitated by Middle Eastern negotiator Brett McGurk, and were willing to work together and compromise due to a desire for a solution prior to the latter's inauguration.^[12] Prior to its conclusion, Trump repeatedly warned that failure to release the hostages, including seven American citizens, before his 20 January inauguration would result in "hell to pay".^[13] A diplomat told The Washington Post that Trump pressured the Israeli side to accept the deal.^[14] Israeli sources also state that the incoming Trump administration revived the talks for a ceasefire.^[15] The New York Times also remarked on Biden's heavy involvement in the negotiations, mentioning particularly how McGurk collaborating with Trump's future special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff.^[16] Witkoff said that Biden's advisor McGurk was "in the lead", which The New York Times reported both camps deemed was accurate and that Biden's team did most of the work.^[17]

On 17 January 2025, the deal was approved by the Israeli security cabinet and then later the full Israeli cabinet, and was also signed by its negotiators.^[18][19][20]