Possible Hostage Deal + Other Headlines

Tuesday Digest (01.14.25)

White House: “Possibility” of Hostage Deal

A hostage deal between Israel and Hamas is at the “closest point” so far in ending the 15-month war and releasing dozens of Israeli hostages, according to mediators in Qatar and statements by national security advisor Jake Sullivan and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. An Israeli official said details are being finalized and would need to be submitted to the Israeli Cabinet for final approval.

These kinds of cabinet meetings tend to happen in the evening in Israel, though the timing always depends on the urgency of the issue. They could be meeting or announcing an agreement around the time we send this post.

Meanwhile, Hamas is said to have accepted a draft agreement of a ceasefire.

The Associated Press describes the potential agreement this way:

Any deal is expected to pause the fighting and bring hopes for winding down the most deadly and destructive war they’ve ever fought, a conflict that has destabilized the Middle East and sparked worldwide protests.

It would bring relief to the hard-hit Gaza Strip, where Israel’s offensive has reduced large areas to rubble and displaced around 90 precent of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million, many of them at risk of famine. Meanwhile, dozens of Israeli hostages would be reunited with loved ones.