Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Thursday, Oct 08, 2026

Israel and Hamas Agree to Ceasefire and Hostage Release

Israel and Hamas Agree to Ceasefire and Hostage Release

A highly anticipated agreement signals a possible end to the Gaza conflict, with hostages, including Americans, scheduled for release.
Hamas and Israel have agreed to a six-week ceasefire to halt the fighting in Gaza, as confirmed by mediators from the U.S. and Qatar on Wednesday.

Part of the agreement involves the release of dozens of hostages, including some Americans, aiming to end the 15-month conflict that has severely impacted the region.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not yet officially approved the deal, but U.S. President Joe Biden has expressed his satisfaction with the progress following months of rigorous negotiations.

Biden, who initially proposed this deal's framework in May, commended both the Trump and Biden administrations for their roles in reaching the agreement.

The ceasefire is set to begin on Sunday, with Israel pulling its troops out of Gaza and increasing humanitarian aid to the area.

During the 42-day period, Palestinian prisoners will also be released, and discussions will continue towards a lasting resolution to the conflict.

Despite Netanyahu’s pending approval, some Cabinet members may oppose the deal, with tensions within his coalition posing challenges for final approval.

A previous attempt at a ceasefire fell apart due to unresolved key details. This deal represents a significant breakthrough in a year of challenging diplomacy, as talks frequently stalled with U.S. officials advocating for a resolution.

The U.S. played a crucial role in coordinating the negotiations, with Trump’s team contributing in the final phases.

Although Netanyahu has supported the idea of releasing hostages, he has not yet agreed to the broader ceasefire terms.

The outcome of Israel’s Cabinet vote will decide whether the ceasefire is implemented or negotiations will resume.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Spicy Food Is Linked to Lower Death Risk — but It Is Not a Miracle Cure
Iranian Hackers Shut Down British Power Plant for Four Days in Landmark Cyber Attack
Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez Sign Prenup Protecting Their Separate Fortunes
Google Launches Pixel 11 With Gemini AI at the Center of Its Hardware Strategy
Turkish Parliament Passes Landmark Bill Granting Conditional Amnesty to Disarmed PKK Members
Jorge Messi, Lionel Messi’s Father and Longtime Agent, Dies at 68
AI’s Next Bottleneck Is Power, Not Just Nvidia Chips
Meta Raises AI Spending Target to as Much as $145bn Despite Pressure Over Returns
Joe Biden’s Cancer Has Spread Beyond His Bones, Hunter Biden Says
Why 2027 Could Be a Strong Year for Stocks—and Why the Forecast Is Fragile
Why Markets May Look Quiet in August After Big Tech Earnings
Trump’s Top General Seeks an Exit Strategy From Iran War, Report Says
Brock Lesnar Retires From Wrestling, Closing a Career of Rare Athletic Range and Lasting Controversy
UFO: Pentagon Releases Video of Unidentified Object Tracked Over Middle East
Ukraine Tells Senate Republicans Its Drone War Offers a Blueprint for America
Weight-Loss Drug Boom Tests the Limits of Prescription Advertising Rules
Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan Sign Mutual-Defence Pact
AI Is Remaking the US Economy, From GDP Growth to iPhone Prices
A SpaceX Rocket Is About to Crash Into the Moon — and Scientists Hope to Watch
Modern Slavery Decisions Broaden the Al Fayed Inquiry’s Frame
FIFA’s Retreat Leaves a Larger Question Over Who Guards the Game
Finland Deploys Commercial-Scale Thermal Batteries Using Crushed Rock to Store Renewable Grid Energy
Valued at $109 Million: F-35B Fighter Jet Crashes in Southern California
US Says It Has Carried Out Heavy Strikes on Iran After Attempted Attacks on Its Forces
Over 24 Hours in the Air: Qantas Airbus Completes Record-Breaking Test Flight
Arrest Warrant Issued in Lebanon for Tycoon Spotted Meeting Netanyahu in Washington
Trump says Israel ‘would not survive’ without US
Nvidia Reportedly Takes Vast Texas Data-Centre Lease to Underwrite AI Expansion
FIFA’s Private-Investment Plan for World Cup Rights Draws European Revolt
Following OpenAI's Cyberattack: 'Most Companies Still Do Not Understand What Is Coming'
OpenAI Sued After ChatGPT Allegedly Discouraged Emergency Care Before Near-Fatal Embolism
Miliband Sets Climate and International Law at Centre of UK Diplomacy
Pentagon Discloses Nearly 100 US Troop Injuries During Renewed Iran Fighting
Trump Readies New Tariffs as Temporary Global Levy Nears Expiry
High Prices Push Coffee Drinkers Toward Whole Beans and Home Brewing
Trump Draws Boos and Podium Scrutiny at Spain’s World Cup Triumph
Spain Defeats Argentina in Extra Time to Win Second World Cup
Turkey Explores S-400 Transfer to UAE in Bid to Rejoin F-35 Program
US Retaliates Against Iran After Two American Troops Killed in Jordan
Proposed U.S.-Saudi Nuclear Pact Could Permit Limited Uranium Enrichment Under International Safeguards
Why Kentucky Fried Chicken Became KFC—and Why the False Explanations Persist
Iran Claims It Destroyed Bahrain’s Main Artificial Intelligence Center in Missile and Drone Strike
Ukrainian Drones Strike Wildberries Warehouses Deep Inside Russia
Reported CIA Mission Helped Clear the UAE’s Path to Advanced US AI Chips
Artificial Intelligence Capital Fuels Markets While Governments and Regulators Face Mounting Strategic Tests
China’s Moonshot’s Kimi K3 Narrows the Gap With Anthropic Through Scale, Openness and Lower Cost
Gold and Cash Seizure Puts Indonesia’s Senior Anti-Corruption Prosecutor Under Investigation
The Ledger Will Not Trust on Faith
Passenger Bound for Germany Refused to Sit Beside a Woman on a Plane — Then Slapped a Flight Attendant
Ukraine’s Leadership Rift Spills Into the Streets as Protesters Target Army Chief
×