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There is finally a deal to end Israel's war with Hamas. But we have been here before. It's a very good afternoon.

It was January 15th of this year, just days before President Trump was set to take office again.

Outgoing President Joe Biden stepped to the podium and announced a breakthrough.

Long last, I can announce a ceasefire and a hostage deal has been reached between Israel and Amos.

The plan was ambitious.

The deal is structured in three phases.

Phase one will last six weeks. It would start with a ceasefire in the release of dozens of Israeli hostages in exchange

for Palestinian prisoners.

Phase two would bring a permanent end to the war and the withdrawal of Israeli forces.

And in phase three, reconstruction of the Gaza Strip would begin.

But by March, it abruptly ended when Israel launched a wave of new air strikes.

In Gaza overnight, a series of punishing and deadly Israeli airstrikes took Palestinians by surprise. The next six months would bring some of the bloodiest fighting yet, and bring famine to parts of Gaza.

Consider this, a new ceasefire deal has reawakened hopes for an end to the war in Gaza. Will this deal prove

more durable than the last? From NPR, I'm Scott Detrow. In the U.S., national security

news can feel far away from daily life. Distant wars, murky conflicts, diplomacy behind closed doors.

On our new show, Sources and Methods.

NPR reporters on the ground bring you stories of real people

helping you understand why distant events matter here at home.

Listen to sources and methods on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts.

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