Key questions about the Israel-Hamas ceasefire

Published January 15, 2025 5:45pm ET



President Joe Biden touted a ceasefire agreement Wednesday between Israel and Hamas, a goal his administration has been working toward for more than a year now with less than a week before he leaves the Oval Office.

This deal, which will not commence until Sunday and could still fall apart before then, is the culmination of negotiations facilitated by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt. It’s unclear exactly why the deal came together now, though President-elect Donald Trump has repeatedly warned Hamas that there would be “hell to pay” if the hostages were not released by his inauguration, which is set for next Monday.

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