ISREAL AND HAMAS CEASEFIRE🙏💞🥰✨️
How did we reach the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal in Gaza?
(January 16th 2025)
Reuters Woman protesting against the government and showing support for the 7 October hostages holds up both hands, with the words "Stop the War" written on her palms, as demonstrators with banners stand in the backgroundReuters
A protester in Israel called for an end to the conflict in early January 2025
Israel and Hamas have agreed to a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal, the US and mediators Qatar have said.

Should the Israeli cabinet and government formally approve the agreement, which is yet to happen, the first six-week phase will take effect on 19 January.

The deal follows 15 months of fighting between Israel and Hamas, a Palestinian armed group and political movement.

The current conflict started when hundreds of Hamas fighters stormed across Israel's southern border on 7 October 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages back to Gaza.

Israel responded with a military campaign, starting with an immediate air bombardment and then a full-scale ground invasion launched on 27 October. Since then, Israel has attacked targets across Gaza by land, sea and air, while Hamas has attacked Israel with rockets.