I’m going to wait until Hamas announces to comment on this. That should happen shortly.
I’ll update the article.
RT:
Israel and Hamas have struck a deal that secures the release of all hostages held by the Palestinian militant group, US President-elect Donald Trump has announced
“We have a deal for the hostages in the Middle East,” Trump posted on his TruthSocial platform on Wednesday. “They will be released shortly.”
According to multiple media outlets, the agreement approved in Qatar involves a 42-day ceasefire and an exchange of prisoners, including all Israelis taken captive in the October 7, 2023 Hamas incursion from Gaza.
“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,” Trump added in another post.
His national security team will “continue to work closely with Israel and our Allies to make sure Gaza NEVER again becomes a terrorist safe haven,” the president-elect added. “This is only the beginning of great things to come for America, and indeed, the World!”
Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, reportedly joined the talks in Doha and played a key role in persuading the Israeli delegation to accept the deal.
It’s being framed as “Israel compelled to agree.”
The deal Israel was refusing was a permanent ceasefire with guarantees from rich Gulf states. They’d been demanding a limited ceasefire with temporary hostage release, which Hamas consistently rejected, because that would just mean they give up all leverage and then Israel comes in again and kills everyone and takes the land.
(I guess you could argue that the hostages aren’t actually leverage because Netanyahu will kill the hostages, he literally doesn’t care, but that is still no reason to give them up.)
But we don’t know what the deal is yet.
If it’s a 42 day ceasefire with no longterm security guarantees for Gaza, and a release of all hostages, then one would have to assume Hamas leadership just sold out Palestine, with Sinwar and others who were ride or die already dead.
But again, we have to see the Hamas announcement.
I’ll update the article.
