Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire that also guarantees the release of hostages, Fox News has confirmed.
“An agreement on a ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza was reached following the Qatari prime minister’s meeting with Hamas negotiators, and separately Israeli negotiators in his office,” a source on the matter told Fox News.
Individual, a senior Hamas official confirmed to Fox News that a deal had been reached.
The conflict, which began with Hamas’ brutal attacks on October 7, 2023, has killed more than 1,200 Israelis, more than 250 taken hostageand thousands of others were killed on both sides.
The deal, brokered by Qatari negotiators and facilitated by Egyptian intermediaries, also had fallout significant involvement from the United States. Both the outgoing Biden administration and the new Trump administration applied strategic pressure to finalize the deal despite concerns about Hamas rearmament and internal tensions within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition.
Sources told Fox News Digital that a weekend meeting between Netanyahu and Trump’s incoming Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, led to the breakthrough. Witkoff’s assurances were reportedly convinced Netanyahu will accept the deal despite threats from a right-wing party to withdraw from the coalition if it is adopted.
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(Noam Galai/Getty Images)
The agreement calls for the release of three hostages on the first day, followed by weekly batches. Women, children and men over 50 will be prioritized initially, while younger men will be admitted later in humanitarian cases. Updates on the status of hostages will alternate between announcements from survivors and confirmation from those who did not survive captivity.
Implementation of the operation depends on extensive coordination between the IDF, Shin Bet, Israel Police, Ministry of Health, International Red Cross and Egyptian authorities. Over a period of 42 days, 33 Israeli hostages are expected to be released. The initial phases will focus on civilian women, children and female soldiers, followed by older men. The last hostage in this group is expected to be released on the 42nd day.
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Prime Minister Netanyahu meets with US President Donald Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff. (Photo by Media Advisor to the Prime Minister)
On the 16th day, the second phase begins, covering the release of younger men and soldiers and the return of the remains. Netanyahu assured the hostage families that every prisoner will be included in the deal. In return, about a thousand Palestinian prisoners will be released, with murder convicts no longer allowed to return to the West Bank. Instead, they will be sent to Gaza, Qatar or Turkey.
The ceasefire will also facilitate significant humanitarian aid to Gaza, with up to 600 trucks of supplies arriving daily. On the 22nd day, displaced residents are allowed to return to northern Gaza. Qatari and Egyptian teams will manage vehicle inspections, while pedestrian crossings will not require checks. The IDF will withdraw from the Nitzarim corridor but maintain a limited presence along the Philadelphia route.
Israeli soldiers stand at the entrance of a tunnel leading to Egypt, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in the Gaza Strip, in the Philadelphi Corridor area of southern Gaza, September 13, 2024. REUTERS/Amir Cohen (REUTERS/Amir Cohen)
While information about the conditions of the hostages remains limited, assessments indicate that most are still alive. Before each release phase, Israel will receive updated information about their identity and health status. The International Red Cross will oversee their transfer from Gaza to Israel, ensuring their safety while addressing logistical challenges such as crowd control.
Upon entering Israel, the hostages will undergo identity verification and initial interrogation by Shin Bet and the IDF. Medical teams stationed at the border will provide immediate care, and those requiring further treatment will be airlifted to hospitals. After receiving the necessary care, the hostages are reunited with their families.
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Israeli security forces are preparing for several contingencies to ensure the success of the operation while maintaining stability. The coming weeks will be marked by tension and emotion as families and the nation anticipate the return of those held captive, including seven Americans, in this protracted conflict.
