After over 15 months of conflict and deadlock, President Joe Biden announced on Wednesday that Israel and Hamas have forged a new ceasefire and hostage release agreement.

This new arrangement initiates a six-week ceasefire period, involves the gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops from crowded urban zones in Gaza, and sets in motion the release of Hamas-held hostages in return for numerous Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, as stated by Biden.

“The journey to get here has been challenging. I’ve engaged in foreign policy for many years, and this has been among the most difficult negotiations I’ve undergone,” Biden remarked from the White House. “This progress was made possible due to the pressure Israel exerted on Hamas, supported by the United States.”

Biden confirmed that Americans are included in the initial group of hostages to be released, although he did not specify how many. Currently, seven Americans are known to be held by Hamas, with four confirmed deceased. Three individuals believed to be alive include Edan Alexander, 21, Keith Siegel, 64, and Sagui Dekel-Chen, 36.

A senior official from the administration informed reporters that Siegel and Dekel-Chen will be among those released in the first phase of the deal, which focuses on women, older men, and those who are sick and injured. Alexander, however, will not be released initially since he is an Israeli soldier.

Anticipated ceasefire set to start Sunday

The agreement, slated to start in three phases beginning this Sunday, was facilitated by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt. The ceasefire aims to stop the hostilities that have ravaged Gaza and unsettled the broader Middle East. This announcement comes just days before President-elect Donald Trump assumes office as the 47th President of the United States.

This deal follows a series of stalled negotiations aimed at extending a previous agreement reached in November 2023, during which 105 hostages were freed over a weeklong truce. In that prior agreement, 150 Palestinian prisoners were also released before fighting resumed.

The first phase of the agreement is expected to see the release of 33 civilians along with 5 female Israeli soldiers held in Gaza during the initial 42 days. In exchange, Israel will release up to 1,000 Palestinians from its prisons and withdraw its military presence from key urban areas in Gaza, a significant coastal route, and an important strip along the border with Egypt.

Biden indicated that more details would be provided soon. An administration official revealed that negotiators will convene on Thursday in Cairo to discuss how to implement this detailed agreement. The identities of the hostages and prisoners for the first stage of release have not been disclosed, but the official assured that the U.S. is aware of who will be released once the agreement takes effect.

Discussions for the second phase, where remaining hostages would be released, are projected to commence on the 16th day after the agreement’s start.

In this next phase, additional Israeli troops would also withdraw from Palestinian areas, and the temporary ceasefire will transition into a permanent one. Biden noted that if this second phase is achieved, it would signify a lasting end to the conflict. The third phase would entail returning the remains of deceased hostages to their families and starting the reconstruction of Gaza.

Biden emphasized that if initial discussions take longer than six weeks, they will continue until a resolution is reached.

“My belief is that there was no alternative to ending this war without a hostage deal. I am immensely pleased that today has arrived for the sake of Israel’s citizens and the families who have endured this anguish, as well as the innocent people in Gaza who have faced unimaginable destruction due to the war,” Biden expressed.

On October 7, 2023, Hamas abducted 251 individuals and claimed the lives of over 1,200 during an attack on southern Israeli communities, prompting a substantial military response from Israel. Israeli officials estimate that 94 hostages are still in Gaza, with 60 believed to be alive; four were taken in previous incidents.

Trump claims ceasefire result of his election success

According to the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health, over 46,000 Palestinians have lost their lives due to Israel’s military actions. The majority of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have been displaced.

The conflict in Gaza has disrupted the entire Middle East, escalating tensions into confrontations involving Iran-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon, Iran-funded Houthi rebels in Yemen, and Iran itself. The situation also seems to have contributed to the political decline of Syrian President Bashar Assad.

As both Trump and Biden vie for recognition for this agreement before Trump’s inauguration, Trump stated last month his wish for a ceasefire to be established prior to taking office, warning of severe consequences if it didn’t happen.

After the announcement on Wednesday, Trump asserted that his election victory paved the way for this ceasefire agreement. “This EPIC ceasefire agreement could have only transpired due to our Historic Victory in November,” he proclaimed on social media.

Biden clarified that while his administration was pivotal in forming the agreement, he instructed his team to coordinate closely with Trump’s advisors to ensure a unified U.S. position.

“I want to point out that this agreement was developed and negotiated during my administration, but its implementation will primarily fall to the next administration. Recently, we have been operating as a unified team,” Biden noted.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre acknowledged that “everyone is going to want some credit” but emphasized that “the president got it done.”

“This is something we’ve been working on for months, well before November,” Jean-Pierre said during a news briefing. “While we may discuss who deserves credit, the priority is that people get to reunite with their families, which is incredibly important.”

A senior administration official later reported that the agreement resulted from extensive diplomatic efforts involving the U.S. and its allies in the region, adding that in recent days, Biden had spoken twice with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

While the Biden administration contended that the root cause for this deal was the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the isolation of Hamas, which led them to agree to release hostages, the official acknowledged that Trump advisor Steve Witkoff had collaborated closely with Biden’s team, playing a significant and beneficial role in the efforts.

“Hell has indeed been paid to Hamas, tremendously,” the source commented.