A ceasefire hangs in the balance

Post Reports

The Washington Post

Daily News, Politics, News

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🗓️ 16 January 2025

⏱️ 24 minutes

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Summary

After months of negotiations mediated by the United States, Egypt and Qatar, Israel and Hamas reached a ceasefire agreement. But its fate is already in doubt.

If the agreement takes effect as planned Sunday, an initial 42-day ceasefire would bring Gaza’s residents some relief from Israeli attacks that have killed more than 46,700 people there, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The ministry’s toll does not distinguish between civilians and militants.

In exchange, Hamas has agreed to release 33 of the hostages it kidnapped during its Oct. 7, 2023, assault on Israel.

The status of the deal is not certain: On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office cast doubt on whether it would be formally approved. Meanwhile, Israeli strikes have killed at least 77 people in the Gaza Strip since the deal was announced, according to Gaza’s civil defense spokesman. At least 25 women and 21 children were reported to be among the dead.

Today on “Post Reports,” correspondent Claire Parker joins us from Jerusalem to talk about the factors that finally led to a ceasefire agreement – and what the road ahead could look like.

Today’s show was produced by Ariel Plotnick with help from Emma Talkoff. It was edited by Monica Campbell with help from Maggie Penman and mixed by Sam Bair.Thanks to Heba Farouk Mahfouz, Miriam Berger, Erin Cunningham and Alan Sipress.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Israel and Hamas reached a ceasefire agreement on Wednesday.
0:05.9	It's a major breakthrough that could bring an end to the war.
0:10.5	For Farah Hatthot, a 20-year-old in a refugee camp in central Gaza,
0:15.6	it was difficult to capture all the emotions she was feeling.
0:20.4	So, I mean, I'm not sure what I'm not going. to capture all the emotions she was feeling.
0:31.4	She said, honestly, I don't know what to say.
0:38.8	My feelings are mixed, but as soon as I saw the news, I cried and kneeled to the ground to thank God.
0:45.2	Fara is studying to be an English translator, but the war disrupted her studies.
0:49.5	She said she's been displaced nine times since it began.
0:57.8	She said it was hard to believe the ceasefire news at first, but that disbelief gave way to celebration.
1:12.3	She said repeatedly, thank God, thank God, and that it was an indescribable scene.
1:15.5	People whistling and cheering and celebrating.
1:21.9	And she said, regardless of our agony, our sadness and loss, people's happiness is indescribable.
1:32.3	We saw footage of people in Gaza rushing into the streets, waving Palestinian flags, cheering.
1:37.3	And meanwhile, in Israel, according to my colleagues reporting, there was sort of a mix of
1:42.3	emotions among families of hostages held in Gaza.
1:45.7	Some were hopeful that they would soon see their loved ones and others.
1:50.2	We're nervous and fearful that the whole thing might collapse before their relatives got brought home.
1:56.4	Claire Parker is in Jerusalem, covering the Israel-Gaza War for the Post.
2:02.8	She's monitoring the early hours of this historic moment. Israel still has to ratify the deal. Prime Minister Benjamin
2:09.2	Netanyahu's office on Thursday cast doubt on whether it would be formally approved.
2:14.7	But if it does go through, the first phase of the ceasefire would begin in several
	...

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