What’s in the Hamas-Israel ceasefire and hostage release deal

The first phrase is expected to start on Sunday and last for 6 weeks. It will feature a ceasefire, a swap of hostages and prisoners and an influx of humanitarian aid into Gaza. US hostages held in Gaza will be released in that first phase, US President Joe Biden said on Wednesday.

The first phase of the deal reached between Hamas and Israel on Wednesday includes a pause in the war and the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza and of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli custody. But several details and the timeline of the full deal remain unclear and will be key to its success moving forward. The deal represents the second ceasefire since the war started on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants launched an attack into Israel, killing more than 1,200 people and taking 250 hostages, according to Israeli authorities. The military offensive launched by Israel in response has killed at least 46,645 Palestinians and injured more than 110,000 in Gaza, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. The first ceasefire, in November 2023, lasted about a week. In that period, 105 hostages being held by Hamas – primarily women, children and elderly people – were released, while Israel released about 240 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails. The current ceasefire deal is set up to progress in three distinct phases. Phase one is expected to start at some point Sunday and last for 6 weeks. This phase will feature a ceasefire, a withdrawal of Israeli troops, a swap of hostages and prisoners and an influx of humanitarian aid into Gaza. US hostages held in Gaza will be released in that first phase, US President Joe Biden said on Wednesday.