President Biden on Wednesday announced a ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas, raising hopes of peace in Gaza after 15 months of fighting. “Fighting in Gaza will stop, and soon the hostages will return home to their families,” he declared at the White House alongside Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The three-phase agreement mirrors the one proposed by the Biden administration last spring. Phase One will last six weeks and includes a ceasefire and withdrawal of Israeli forces from all populated areas of Gaza, and the release of a number of hostages held by Hamas, including women and the elderly and wounded. Israel will also release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, and the Palestinian people will be allowed to return to their homes and have access to a surge of humanitarian assistance. Phase Two would mark a “permanent end” to the war but will only come about through further negotiations, during which time the ceasefire will remain in place as long as talks continue. When the second phase begins, there will be a release of all remaining living hostages, and all remaining Israeli forces will be withdrawn from Gaza. Phase Three would include the repatriation of the remains of deceased hostages and the beginning of a major reconstruction plan for Gaza. Watch more at c-span.org
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