Gaza special: ceasefire and hostage deal agreed

Summary

Global News Podcast: Gaza Special – Ceasefire and Hostage Deal Agreed

Release Date: January 15, 2025
Host: Paul Moss, BBC World Service

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Introduction to the Ceasefire Agreement

On January 15, 2025, the BBC World Service's "Global News Podcast" delivered a special edition focusing on a landmark ceasefire deal in Gaza, aiming to end 15 months of intense conflict. The agreement, slated to commence on January 19th, involves the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the release of all hostages held by Hamas. US President Joe Biden confirmed the deal, highlighting its significance in restoring peace to the region.

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Mediation and Negotiation Efforts

Qatar's Role in Mediating Peace

The ceasefire deal was publicly announced by Qatar's Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman bin Yassim Al Thani, who has been instrumental in hosting and mediating talks between Israel and Hamas. At a Doha news conference, he emphasized the collaborative efforts that led to the agreement:

"What we have seen from the US in the past few days... was a clear demonstration for the commitment of the US to reach that deal." ([01:32])

Al Thani acknowledged the persistent efforts since the initial collapse of the first negotiation phase and credited both Qatari officials and US envoys for their critical roles in achieving the ceasefire.

US Involvement and Diplomatic Support

The United States played a pivotal role in facilitating the negotiations. Although President Biden has been at the forefront, former President Donald Trump and his transition team also contributed significantly. Steve Wyckoff, appointed by Trump as his envoy to the region, was actively involved in discussions and was present during the final announcements.

"The Trump transition team has been closely involved over the recent weeks... negotiations don't end here. They pick up because there are three phases to this." ([12:20])

Despite Trump's claims of pivotal influence post-election, the Biden administration maintains that the framework established earlier and the continual US diplomatic efforts were crucial in shaping the deal.

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Details of the Ceasefire Deal

Phased Withdrawal and Hostage Release

Jerusalem correspondent Jonah Fisher provided an in-depth breakdown of the agreement:

"It's a 42-day ceasefire that will see a phased release of 33 hostages that Hamas took during the October 7, 2023 attack... Israel will in return release dozens of Palestinian prisoners from its jails." ([02:50])

The deal outlines a systematic withdrawal of Israeli forces to a buffer zone on Gaza's eastern edge and allows nearly 2 million displaced Gazans to return to their homes, many of which have been devastated by prolonged bombardment.

Political Approval in Israel

The Israeli Security Cabinet is scheduled to vote on the agreement the day following the podcast's release. While opposition exists, particularly from far-right members like Finance Minister Mr. Smotrich, analysts believe the deal will secure approval due to the potential political fallout of rejecting it.

"I don't think there's a serious question here in Israel as to whether the deal will get through tomorrow." ([04:48])

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Reactions on the Ground in Gaza

Celebrations and Concerns Among Palestinians

Thousands of Palestinians in Gaza, including residents of Khan Younis like Abu Sufyan, celebrated the ceasefire announcement. Abu Sufyan expressed hope for freedom and dignity:

"We are here happy with this victory because the Palestinian people simply want their freedom." ([06:12])

However, BBC's Gaza correspondent, Rushdie Abu Alouf, conveyed a mixture of jubilation and apprehension among the population. The extensive destruction and uncertainty about future governance pose significant challenges.

"It's a very mixed feeling in Gaza today. Happy for the ceasefire and sad for the future." ([06:40])

Uncertainty Over Governance and Reconstruction

The future governance of Gaza remains unclear. While Hamas is theoretically the authority, involvement from the Palestinian Authority and other technocrats is anticipated to manage reconstruction efforts amidst widespread devastation.

"People have been waiting for this war to end, but also they don't know exactly who's going to be in charge." ([08:13])

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Impact on Hostage Families in Israel

Emotional Appeals and Uncertainty

Families of the hostages, gathered in Tel Aviv's Hostage Square, voiced their anxieties and hopes for their loved ones' safe return. Udi Guren, campaigning for the hostages' release, shared his profound anguish:

"There's no words to describe what does a parent feel when their child is taken away... I truly hope that some of the people that have become my extended family might actually see their child." ([10:22])

The peace deal marks the end of a harrowing 15-month ordeal for these families, who await the gradual release of hostages as stipulated in the agreement.

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International and Regional Implications

Prospects for Lasting Peace

International editor Jeremy Bowen highlighted the ceasefire as a "considerable achievement" but cautioned that it does not resolve the century-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Ensuring the durability of the truce remains a significant challenge, with fears of renewed violence post the initial 42-day period.

"The ceasefire might, with luck, stop the killing and get Israeli hostages and Palestinian detainees and prisoners back to their families. It does not end a conflict that is more than a century old." ([14:03])

Geostrategic Shifts in the Middle East

The Gaza conflict has reshaped regional dynamics, weakening various militant groups and altering alliances. Israel's actions and the subsequent international legal investigations into potential war crimes have attracted global scrutiny.

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Conclusion

The January 15, 2025 episode of the "Global News Podcast" provided a comprehensive overview of the historic ceasefire agreement in Gaza. While the deal offers a glimmer of hope for peace and the return of hostages, the path forward remains fraught with challenges, including rebuilding war-torn Gaza and addressing the deep-seated animosities that fuel the enduring Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The international community remains watchful, recognizing that this agreement is a pivotal step, yet not the final resolution, in a protracted struggle for peace and stability in the region.

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Notable Contributors:

• Paul Moss – Host, BBC World Service
• Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman bin Yassim Al Thani – Prime Minister of Qatar
• Jonah Fisher – Jerusalem Correspondent, BBC
• Rushdie Abu Alouf – Gaza Correspondent, BBC
• Udi Guren – Hostage Family Representative, Israel
• Jeremy Bowen – International Editor, BBC World Service

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For more detailed coverage and updates, tune into the BBC Global News Podcast available on all major platforms.

Transcript

[Paul Moss]

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[Paul Moss]

This is the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Paul Moss and in this special edition recorded on Wednesday 15 January, a ceasefire deal in Gaza is announced. An agreement to end 15 months of war. It's due to start on Sunday. US President Joe Biden confirmed the deal, which involves a full and complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the release of all the hostages held by Hamas. We'll have the latest from our correspondence in Jerusalem and Washington. It was the Prime Minister of Qatar who announced details of the deal. Qatar has been hosting and mediating talks between the two sides. This is what Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman bin Yassim Al Thani had to say at a news conference in Doha.

[Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman bin Yassim Al Thani]

We've been raising the question of the right moment for the entire period since the collapse of the first phase. But we have seen a momentum that started to build in the last month and we kept pushing for that, working together very closely with our partners. And I can say that what we have seen from the US in the past few days, seeing a collaboration transcending both administration, was a clear demonstration for the commitment of the US to reach to that deal. And I really would like to thank both the envoys who are here with us in the last couple of days and they played a vital role in reaching to this moment. And of course for us and Egypt this is something that we are a stakeholder in that conflict, that we have to do it and we have have to help and support. But we have seen the steps that's been taken recently from the US has has yielded to this moment.

[Paul Moss]

Qatar's Prime Minister what's striking about the ceasefire deal is that it's really just a more detailed version of the outline agreement drawn up in the middle of last year. As our Jerusalem correspondent Jonah Fisher explained to me, this is a deal that.

[Jonah Fisher]

In effect has been around for seven or eight months it was first put forward by the Biden administration in May of last year. It's taken that long for it to gain enough momentum, for enough pressure to be put on on all sides for it to culminate in what we've seen in the last hour or so, confirmation that a deal had been reached. It's a 42 day ceasefire that will see a phased release of 33 hostages that Hamas took during the October 7, 2023 attack. That's hostages who are basically women, children, elderly, sick and injured. And it's not entirely clear at this point that all 33 of them are still alive. Every time that Hamas releases a live hostage or a body, Israel will in return release dozens of Palestinian prisoners from its jails here in Israel. So it's a phased release of those hostages. And at the same time, Israel will be pulling back its forces from the more densely populated parts of the Gaza Strip to a buffer zone, effectively on the eastern edge of the Gaza Strip where it borders Israel. And at the same time, the displaced people of Gaza, nearly 2 million of them, will be allowed to return to, well, we could term their homes. Obviously many of them are going to discover when they do go back to where they lived before, that what they called their home has been reduced to rubble by the Israeli attacks and the violence.

[Paul Moss]

And we're hearing that the Israeli security Cabinet is going to vote on this deal tomorrow. It's presumably still an open question, isn't it, whether the deal will pass. Many people in it were virulently opposed to any deal like this. And you know, I'm thinking of people like The Finance Minister, Mr. Smotrick, who said instead of a deal like this, it would be better to unleash the gates of hell on Gaza. Is it going to get through?

[Jonah Fisher]

I think it will get through. There are certainly very strongly voiced objections that have been raised over the last few days by some far right ultra nationalist members of Mr. Netanyahu's government. He only needs a majority to get it through his government. And I think the considered opinion may be that those members, like, as you mentioned there, Mr. Smotrich and Mr. Ben Gvir and other of the far right members of cabinet, they may have felt that they have articulated their objection to it and they don't want to take the further step of resigning from the government and attempting to take the government down and the political chaos that that would release. So I don't think there's a serious question here in Israel as to whether the deal will get through tomorrow. There will certainly be Objections raised. So that part of the process does appear that it will, will follow. Despite protests from some, Jonah Fischer Even.

[Paul Moss]

Before any formal announcement was made, thousands of Palestinians celebrated the ceasefire agreement. This was the sound on the streets of Khan Younis. Abu Sufyan was one of those celebrating. Crowds gathered around television screens tuned into the news.

[Abu Sufyan]

We are here happy with this victory because the Palestinian people simply want their freedom. Freedom for the Palestinian people. We don't want anything but freedom and to live with dignity without occupation.

[Paul Moss]

According to the United Nations, 90% of Gaza's population has been displaced because of Israeli bombardment. Among those who managed to escape was the BBC's Gaza correspondent Rushdie Abu Alouf, who's in Istanbul. He shared his thoughts on what the deal means.

[Rushdie Abu Alouf]

It's significant for the people of Gaza. It's a night of celebration in Gaza, but also a sign of worrying because you know the cease fire will go into effect from Sunday, which is still three days of this war already today and yesterday there was real intensify of Israeli airstrikes. More than 60 people were killed for the last 48 hours according to the Hamas run health Ministry. But in general people were expressing their mixed feeling joy for the cease fire announcement today, but fear for the future because you know the scale of destruction in Gaza City and in northern Gaza especially, which was under really Israeli, heavy Israeli operation for the last year. Most of the homes, schools, universities were destroyed and people will go back to the north after seven days, but for nothing. They wouldn't find their homes exist anymore. And I think the people will be shocked when they see the scale of destruction. The satellite footage that we have been receiving showing a widespread destruction. Hundreds of thousands of housing units were destroyed, most of the hospitals, most of the schools and universities. So it's a very mixed feeling in Gaza today. Happy for the ceasefire and sad for the future.

[Paul Moss]

And very briefly it's still not clear of course who is going to be in charge in Gaza once the Israeli leaves.

[Rushdie Abu Alouf]

Yeah, that's the big question. People have been waiting for this war to end, but also they don't know exactly who's going to be in charge. Well, in theory there is no authority rather than Hamas to be in charge of Gaza now. And we understand that part of the deal, Egypt and Qatar will have to work with other Palestinian elements, maybe the Palestinian Authority which is run the Palestinians in Ramallah or maybe with former Palestinian Authority officers. Like we understand that Egypt is being in contact with some of the Palestinian experts and Palestinian, they call them technocrat people to run the authority in Gaza. It's still not clear. And the future seems very grim for the people of Gaza. They don't know exactly who's going to be in charge and who's going to be taking the job of rebuilding Gaza, because, as I said, Gaza is devastated. Everywhere it's been destroyed. Every element is destroyed, most of the house, the schools, the universities. So the future seems grim for the people of Gaza. So that way, they are in a very mixed feeling for the end of the war, but for the future.

[Paul Moss]

The BBC's Gaza correspondent, Rushdie Abu Alouf, and Hamas have released a statement about the deal. A Hamas official described the ceasefire as a great gain that reflects the legend that had been achieved through the steadfastness of Gaza, its people and the bravery of its resistance. Well, according to BBC Verify, 94 of the 251 hostages taken on October 7 are still in Gaza. 60 of them are assumed to be alive. Still, the families of those taken have gathered once again in a part of Tel Aviv known as Hostage Square. They've been holding up placards with pictures of friends and relatives and chanting. Udi Guren, whose cousin Tal Haimi was killed on October 7, has been campaigning for the hostages release for the last 15 months. He told the BBC that the families are anxiously waiting to see their relatives again.

[Udi Guren]

Everybody is incredibly anxious and a lot can still go wrong. At the end of the day, we are ending a very long war. I hope, I truly hope that some of the people that have become my extended family might actually see their child. There's no words to describe what does a parent feel when their child is taken away and there's nothing they can do about it. And there's a possibility they can see them back.

[Paul Moss]

It may have been Qatar which hosted the peace talks, but of course, the US was very much in the room, sometimes literally, but always a presence in trying to nudge the two sides together. That said, the US never made any bones about being Israel's ally in this conflict, supplying it with both weapons and diplomatic support. Nonetheless, when welcoming the deal, Joe Biden expressed hope it would bring relief to both sides.

[Udi Guren]

Long last, I can announce a ceasefire. And a hostage deal has been reached between Israel and hamas. More than 15 months of conflict that began with Hezbollah's brutal massacre on October 7. More than 15 months of terror for the hostages, their families, the Israeli people. More than 15 months of suffering by the innocent people of Gaza. Fighting in Gaza will stop and soon the hostages will return home to their families. The elements of this deal are what I laid out in detail this past May, which was embraced by countries around the world and endorsed overwhelmingly by the UN Security Council.

[Paul Moss]

Joe Biden may still be president, but before he spoke about the ceasefire agreement, Donald Trump was taking credit for the influence played by him and his team. And they did actually play an important role, as our State Department correspondent Tom Bateman explained to me.

[Abu Sufyan]

Well, they were closely involved because Steve Wyckoff, the man that he's appointed to be his envoy to the region, was in Qatar. He had spent the weekend in Israel. He'd spoken to Prime Minister Netanyahu. He was in the room actually just now as the Qatari prime minister held a news conference where they announced the signing of the deal. So the Trump transition team's been closely involved over the recent weeks. I think that the. What the Biden administration saying about all this is that it's because they coordinated closely and wanted to hand over, you know, the agreement in the best possible shape. I mean, it is in the best possible shape now because it's been signed. But remember, the negotiations don't end here. They pick up because there are three phases to this. And so I think, you know, what the Biden administration will be saying is that it was all to do with the way that President Biden had set out this framework back in May, changing conditions in the region because of what was happening militarily, and then, you know, sort of a dogged US Approach, as President Biden puts it, that got this thing over the line. President Trump, though, is taking credit and saying it is only because of his election in November that the deal has been signed.

[Paul Moss]

Tom Bateman in Washington. You've been listening to a special edition of the global news podcast. A ceasefire deal in Gaza has been announced with an end to Israeli attacks on Palestinians and Israeli hostages released. It's due to start on January 19th. With his thoughts on the wider implications of the deal, here's our international editor, Jeremy Bowen.

[Jeremy Bowen]

The ceasefire is a considerable achievement. It is long overdue. Versions of the deal have been on the table since May last year. Hamas and Israel have blamed each other for the delays. Israel's response to the Hamas attacks on 7 October, 2023 that killed around 1200 people, mostly Israeli civilians, has left Gaza in ruins. Most of Gaza's population of well over 2 million has been displaced. According to the Hamas run Health Ministry, Israeli attacks have killed almost 50,000 people, both combatants and civilians. A recent study in the Lancet Medical Journal says that might be a major underestimate. The first big challenge is making sure that the ceasefire holds. Senior Western diplomats fear that after the first phase of 42 days, the war could resume. The Gaza war has had immense consequences across the Middle East. It did not, as many feared, lead to a general war in the region. The Biden administration has claimed credit for that, but it has led to geostrategic upheaval. Hamas is still able to fight, but it's a shadow of what it was. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister have been accused of war crimes by the International Criminal Court. The International Court of Justice is investigating case brought by South Africa accusing Israel of genocide. After Hezbollah in Lebanon intervened in the war, it was eventually crushed by an Israeli offensive. That was a factor that led to the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria. Iran and Israel exchanged direct attacks, weakening the Iranians. Their network of allies and proxies that they called the Axis of Resistance has been crippled. The Houthis in Yemen have halted much of the shipping between Europe and Asia that passes the Red Sea. It remains to be seen whether they will keep their pledge to stop attacks. Now there's a ceasefire in Gaza. As for the long conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, it is as bitter as it has ever been. The ceasefire might, with luck, stop the killing and get Israeli hostages and Palestinian detainees and prisoners back to their families. It does not end a conflict that is more than a century old.

[Paul Moss]

Jeremy Bowen. And that's all from us for now. But there'll be a new edition of the Global News Podcast very soon. If you want to comment on this podcast or the topics covered in it, you can send us an email. The address is globalpodcastbc.co.uk. you can also find us on x@globalnewspod. This edition was mixed by Jack Wilfan and the producer was Alison Davies. The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Paul Moss. Until next time. Goodbye.

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