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Middle East live updates: Biden confirms ceasefire deal reached

Hamas and Israel have reportedly agreed to a hostage deal.

ByDavid Brennan and Nadine El-Bawab
Last Updated: January 15, 2025, 6:19 PM EST

A ceasefire has been reached between Israel and Hamas, with the Qatari prime minister announcing the deal Wednesday afternoon.

Meanwhile, the November ceasefire in Lebanon is holding despite ongoing Israeli airstrikes on Hezbollah targets, which Israeli officials say are responses to ceasefire violations by the Iranian-backed militant group. Israeli forces also remain active inside the Syrian border region as victorious rebels there build a transitional government.

Tensions remain high between Israel and Iran after tit-for-tat long-range strikes in recent months and threats of further military action from both sides. The IDF and the Yemeni Houthis also continue to exchange attacks.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing.
Jan 15, 2025, 6:18 PM EST

2 American hostages expected to be released in 1st phase of deal: Official

Two living Americans are expected to be among the 33 hostages in Gaza released as part of the first phase of the ceasefire deal, a senior administration official told reporters Wednesday.

Keith Siegel and Sagui Dekel-Chen are both expected to be released, with Siegel qualifying for release due to his age and Dekel-Chen because of an injury after being shot on Oct. 7, the official said.

"We're now very hopeful that we begin to see hostages come home as early as Sunday," the official said.

American-Israeli hostages that may be included in the ceasefire-release agreement include Sagui Dekel-Chen, 36, Keith Siegel, 65, and Edan Alexander, 20.
Obtained by ABC News | Hostage Families Forum

Edan Alexander, a third living American hostage, will fall in the second release phase because of his Israeli military service, the official said, adding that the U.S. remains fully committed to getting him out.

The remains of four American hostages also remain in Gaza, President Joe Biden said. The remains of deceased hostages will be returned in phase three, he said.

-ABC News' Molly Nagle and Kelsey Walsh

Jan 15, 2025, 5:37 PM EST

12 people killed in Gaza City bombings: Civil Defense

Twelve people were killed and at least 20 people were injured after bombings in Gaza City within the past hour, Gaza's Civil Defense said.

The attacks were reported after the announcement of a hostage and ceasefire deal, the first phase of which isn't set to go into effect until Sunday.

-ABC News' Sami Zyara

Jan 15, 2025, 1:58 PM EST

Biden announces ceasefire deal

President Joe Biden released a statement saying Hamas and Israel had agreed to a deal, "after many months of intensive diplomacy," by the United States, Egypt and Qatar.

"I laid out the precise contours of this plan on May 31, 2024, after which it was endorsed unanimously by the UN Security Council," Biden said in the statement. "It is the result not only of the extreme pressure that Hamas has been under and the changed regional equation after a ceasefire in Lebanon and weakening of Iran — but also of dogged and painstaking American diplomacy. My diplomacy never ceased in their efforts to get this done."

Family members of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza and their supporters react to ceasefire reports during a protest calling for a ceasefire and for the release of the hostages, outside the Likud party headquarters in Tel Aviv, Israel, Jan. 15, 2025.
Abir Sultan/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Biden also highlighted the three living American hostages who are still being held, and the four remains of American hostages yet to be returned.

Jan 15, 2025, 1:52 PM EST

What comes next in ceasefire process?

While a ceasefire agreement has been reached between Hamas and Israeli negotiators, the Israeli government still needs to approve the deal.

The deal is expected to be approved, but it will take several votes.

Click here to read more about the next steps.

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