OAN Staff James Myers
7:40am – Monday, January 13, 2025
Israel and Hamas reached a major “breakthrough” in ceasefire negotiations on Monday morning, reaching an agreement that aims to finally end more than 15 months of war and allow the remaining hostages to return home.
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The talks took place in Qatar in the early hours of Monday and were attended by special envoys from both President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump, with Hamas teasing the release of a number of terrorists captured by Israel.
Although a final agreement has not yet been reached, a person involved in the negotiations said: Reuters“The next 24 hours will be critical in reaching an agreement.”
The negotiations revolve around a list of more than 30 hostages that Hamas has indicated it intends to release, although the number of survivors has not been disclosed.
Terrorist organizations, on the other hand, said they were looking forward to a new agreement but promised to release their own terrorists.
“We renew our vows to our loyal and patient people and to our heroic prisoners in prison, confirming that their freedom is near,” the terrorist group said, according to the newspaper. era of israel.
According to ReutersSteve Witkoff, who will become U.S. special envoy when Trump returns to the White House next week, also attended the meeting.
Additionally, President Trump's inauguration on January 20th is considered the deadline for securing the hostages, and 47 people are currently being held hostage.th The president warned Hamas of “hell's punishment” if the hostages were not released.
The White House said Biden spoke by phone with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, stressing “the immediate need for the return of hostages through a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the surge in humanitarian assistance made possible by an agreed-upon cessation of fighting.”
Approximately 100 hostages, including seven Americans, are still being held by Hamas in Gaza following the October 7 attack.th Terrorist attack against Israel. Officials say nearly half of them may have died.
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