Gaza Ceasefire and Hostage Deal

In January 2025, a phased ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas took effect after 15 months of conflict that killed over 45,000 Palestinians and 1,200 Israelis. The deal, brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and the US, included the release of remaining hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. It marked the most significant pause in Middle East hostilities in over a year, surpassing the 2021 11-day ceasefire in duration by 20-fold, as the agreement held for over 200 days before tensions resumed.