Israel-Hamas Ceasefire: Netanyahu Lauds Trump, Biden

• Says ‘final details’ of deal being worked on

Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has appreciated United States (US) President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump for their “assistance” in advancing the ceasefire and hostages release deal.

In a series of posts on X, Netanyahu’s office said he spoke this evening with Trump and thanked him “for helping Israel bring an end to the suffering of dozens of hostages and their families.”

Netanyahu “made it clear that he is committed to returning all of the hostages however he can, and commended the US President-elect for his remarks that the US would work with Israel to ensure that Gaza will never be a haven for terrorism,” it said.

Netanyahu and Trump decided to meet in Washington soon, it said.

Netanyahu then spoke with Biden and thanked him for his assistance in advancing the hostages deal, it said.

In a separate statement, Netanyahu’s office said; “An official statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be issued only after the completion of the final details of the agreement, which are being worked on at present.”

On its part, Hamas announced a few hours earlier that it had formally accepted the terms of the deal.

A statement later on Wednesday quoted the group’s acting chief, Khalil al-Hayya, as saying that; “Israel failed to achieve its goals in Gaza.”

“On behalf of all the victims, every drop of blood spilt and every tear of pain and oppression, we say: We will not forget, and we will not forgive,” he added.

Amid the celebrations greeting the Wednesday’s ceasefire arrangements, Gaza’s civil defence agency reported that at least 20 people were killed in Israeli attacks after the deal was announced.

Even as Israeli airstrikes continued, in Deir al-Balah in the centre of the strip, people gathered to celebrate, cheering and dancing on dark streets without power.

A displaced father of four, Mohammed Azaiza, told reporters; “Praise be to God, we will be free to live like human beings again soon”.

In Tel Aviv, the mood was more sombre, as protesters in favour of a deal gathered in a demonstration held to remind Israel’s leaders of their position before the cabinet vote.

Maoz Inon, an Israeli peace activist whose parents were killed in the Hamas attack in October 2023 that triggered the war on 7 October, told Al Jazeera: “It’s too late for my parents and thousands of people in Gaza and thousands of Israelis but this is what I’ve been calling for … a deal and the beginning of a peace process. I am happy for all those who will sleep well tonight and go back to their families.”

A first batch of 33 hostages is expected to be released on Sunday in exchange for Palestinians held in Israeli jails, and wounded people in Gaza will be allowed to leave for medical treatment.

Children, women, including female soldiers, and the over-50s would be freed first, Sheikh Mohammed said. In exchange, Israel would release “a number of Palestinians”.

Associated Press reported that 50 Palestinians would be released for every female Israeli soldier released by Hamas and 30 for each of the other hostages.

In a social media post, Trump said: “We have a deal for the hostages in the Middle East … They will be released shortly.”

He claimed the deal “could have only happened as a result of our historic victory in November, as it signalled to the entire world that my administration would seek peace and negotiate deals to ensure the safety of all Americans, and our allies”. – With The Guardian report