A hostages-and-prisoners exchange and armistice between Israel and Hamas-led Palestinian militant groups in the Gaza Strip took effect from 19 January to 18 March 2025, during the Gaza war. It included eight rounds of hostage-and-prisoner exchanges between Israel and Hamas.
The initial proposal included three stages, beginning with a six-week ceasefire and the release of all Israelis and Palestinians by both parties, an end to the war, Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and a reconstruction plan. The proposal was first drafted by mediators from the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, accepted by Hamas on 5 May 2024. On 10 June, the UN Security Council supported it as Resolution 2735. Later in 2024, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected a permanent ceasefire, while some US officials also accused Hamas of hindering the proposal. President-elect Donald Trump joined President Biden in pressuring Israel to accept a similar proposal. A variation of the proposal was accepted by Israel and Hamas on 15 January 2025. On 17 January, the deal was signed and approved by the Security Cabinet of Israel and later the full Cabinet of Israel.
During the first stage, in exchange of the release of 30–50 Palestinians prisoners for every Israeli released, Hamas released 33 hostages. Israel agreed to provide "intensive and sufficient" quantities of humanitarian aid, allow displaced Palestinians to return home and begin a phased withdrawal from Gaza. In the second stage, Israel would accept a permanent ceasefire and Hamas would release the remaining living male hostages, both civilians and soldiers, for an exchange of Palestinian prisoners. In the third stage, the remains of deceased Israeli hostages would be released. Under the 5 May proposal, Israel would commit to lifting the blockade on the Gaza Strip, but this commitment was not present in the 31 May proposal.
From the beginning of the implementation of the deal, Israel was consistently accused of violating it by killing Palestinians and hindering aid since the ceasefire came into effect. Israel accused Hamas of violating the deal with delays in providing the names of hostages. On 10 February, Hamas announced that it would suspend the release of the Israeli hostages, citing violations by Israel; this led to threats from Trump and Netanyahu in response. Hamas revoked the suspension, saying that Egyptian and Qatari mediators would oversee humanitarian provisions of the truce agreement, and released Israeli hostages as agreed upon. On 22 February, Hamas released six living hostages as stipulated, but Israel refused to release 620 Palestinian prisoners as stipulated, instead instituting an indefinite delay of the release while accusing Hamas of repeatedly violating the deal. On 25 February, Israel and Hamas reached a deal to exchange the bodies of Israeli hostages in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
On 1 March, the day the first phase of the ceasefire was scheduled to end, Hamas rejected an Israeli proposal to extend it to release more hostages. Hamas said the second phase should proceed as originally planned. Netanyahu's office said that Israel endorsed a US plan to extend the Gaza truce for the Ramadan and Passover periods. Under this plan, half of the living and dead hostages would be released on the first day of the extended truce and the remaining hostages would be released at the end of the period if a permanent truce was reached. Following Hamas's refusal to accept the proposal, Israel ceased the entry of aid to Gaza the next day, 2 March. The humanitarian aid blockade was condemned by mediators Egypt and Qatar, as well as the United Nations, as a violation of the ceasefire, which stipulated that phase one would automatically be extended as long as phase two negotiations were in progress.
On 9 March, Israeli energy minister Eli Cohen ordered to halt supply of Israeli electricity to Gaza. On 14 March, Hamas said that it agreed to a proposal from mediators to release Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander and the bodies of four dual national hostages. Israel and the United States rejected the claim.
On 18 March, Israel launched surprise airstrikes on Gaza, breaking the ceasefire with Hamas. Netanyahu's office stated that the strikes were carried out in response to Hamas's refusal to release hostages and its rejection of proposals to extend the cease-fire. Hours later, Netanyahu declared that Israel has "resumed combat in full force" against Hamas in Gaza, with the wave of airstrikes being "just the beginning".
Background Initial ceasefire and mediation
Following the Hamas-led attack on Israel on 7 October 2023 and Israel's subsequent declaration of war on Hamas, Egypt and Jordan began coordinating a response to avert an escalation of the conflict. Attempts to reach a ceasefire were raised at the United Nations Security Council in October; Israel requested the resignation of United Nations secretary-general António Guterres after he referred to Israel's retaliation as unjustified collective punishment. After Israel's invasion of the Gaza Strip, Israeli prime minister Netanyahu rejected a ceasefire, equating a halt in fighting to a surrender to Hamas and terrorism. United States secretary of state Antony Blinken presented "humanitarian pauses" to countries in the region but stated a ceasefire would allow Hamas to initiate a second attack on Israel. An agreement was nearly reached, but forfeited after Israel's invasion of Gaza.
In a press conference in November, Netanyahu stated a ceasefire would necessitate a return of Israeli hostages taken during the attack. Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Egypt intensified efforts to reach a ceasefire; at the Joint Arab Islamic Extraordinary Summit, Iran and Saudi Arabia urged for a ceasefire. The Washington Post reported on 18 November that the U.S. was nearing an agreement to release hostages and halt fighting, drafted during discussions in Doha, Qatar. On 22 November, Israel and Hamas exchanged hostages for prisoners and held a four-day ceasefire. President Biden was critical to restoring negotiations, according to The Wall Street Journal. Israel and Hamas extended the ceasefire for an additional two days and released additional hostages and detainees, but Israel resumed its offensive after Qatari mediators could not resolve differences in terms.
The U.S. government began urging Israel and Hamas to negotiate, according to National Security Council strategic communications coordinator John Kirby. In December, Egypt provided a ceasefire plan obtained by the Associated Press that would gradually release hostages and form a Palestinian government to administer Gaza and the occupied West Bank, relinquishing control from Hamas. Several days later, NPR reported on a revised proposal that would remove references to the governance of Gaza and the occupied West Bank. Efforts at the United Nations Security Council failed to offer a ceasefire over concerns relating to aid monitoring by the United Nations. By January, several Israeli commanders expressed beliefs that releasing hostages could only be achieved through diplomacy, according to The New York Times; general Gadi Eisenkot stated publicly that Israel should "rescue civilians, ahead of killing an enemy".
Further ceasefire negotiations Throughout January 2024, Egyptian and Qatari mediators suggested several proposals, ranging from weeks to months. Hamas officials stated the remaining hostages, estimated to number over a hundred, would be released if a favorable and comprehensive ceasefire was offered; Netanyahu rejected a permanent ceasefire if Hamas would be allowed to govern Gaza. Israeli officials suggested a permanent ceasefire if Hamas leaders went into exile, a deal opposed by Hamas. On 25 January, the U.S. announced Central Intelligence Agency director William J. Burns would meet with Israeli, Egyptian, and Qatari officials. According to the U.S., Israel proposed a 60-day ceasefire. In discussions, officials discussed exchanging hostages, enhancing the Palestinian Authority, and improving Israel–Saudi Arabia relations in exchange for support of a Palestinian state.
Following the meeting in Paris, Hamas chief political leader Ismail Haniyeh stated the organization was considering a deal, but remained committed to a withdrawal of Israeli forces in Gaza, a demand rejected by Netanyahu. Al-Aqsa reported that Hamas continued to discuss the proposal through 4 February as Antony Blinken arrived in Saudi Arabia to advance a framework on a ceasefire. In a meeting with Israeli minister without portfolio Benny Gantz, U.S. vice president Kamala Harris urged for a ceasefire and the release of hostages. By 7 March, ceasefire discussions did not appear to progress. According to Axios, Hamas prioritized returning Palestinians to northern Gaza in discussions. Leading up to Ramadan, mediators from the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar increased efforts to reach a ceasefire; Burns met with Barnea in Jordan on 8 March to discuss a hostage deal. Netanyahu rejected Hamas's counteroffer as "ludicrous", but remained open to negotiating.
On 18 March 2024, Israel and Hamas began negotiating for the first time since December 2023. Hamas eased its demands, removing an agreement to hold a permanent ceasefire. A United Nations warning of an imminent famine furthered discussions to reach a ceasefire. The United States abstained from voting on United Nations Security Council Resolution 2728, a resolution that demands a ceasefire during Ramadan and the unconditional release of hostages, allowing the vote to pass but creating a conflict with Netanyahu. By 26 March, negotiations had stalled; Israel accused Hamas of stalling discussions, encouraged by the U.S.'s abstention of Resolution 2728. Burns, Sheikh Mohammed, Barnea, and Egyptian officials met in Doha to discuss a proposal that included an increased number of released Palestinian prisoners.
Aid convoy attack and U.S. policy change
On 1 April, Israeli strikes on a World Central Kitchen aid convoy killed seven workers. Biden condemned the attack, stating Israel had "not done enough to protect civilians". In a call three days after the strikes, Biden told Netanyahu to seek an "immediate ceasefire", warning that the U.S. could shift its policy on the war if Israel does not adhere to his demands. Biden urged Egypt and Qatar to pressure Hamas to reach a temporary ceasefire and the release of hostages. On 7 April, Israel withdrew the 98th Paratroopers Division from Khan Yunis, significantly reducing Israel's presence in southern Gaza. According to Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant, the withdrawal was intended to reallocate resources towards a planned invasion of Rafah.
Negotiation process April 2024: Initial discussions