After 15 months of war, Israel and Hamas have agreed to a temporary cease-fire. The deal prompted hope that the war could end soon, but also caused worry that the tentative terms could easily fall apart.Patrick Kingsley, the Times’s Jerusalem bureau chief, explains why the agreement finally happened — and what it means for Gaza, Israel and the broader Middle East.Guests: Patrick Kingsley, the Jerusalem bureau chief for The New York Times.Background reading: Here’s what we know about the agreement.The Times obtained a copy of the provisional deal. Here’s what it says.Follow continuing coverage.For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
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Well, I've been waiting this moment for 15 months. Finally, I cannot hear any drones. For 15 months, I've been away from seeing my daughters. I'll be happy when I'm returned to North Gaza. I know it's completely destroyed, but still, I want to go there. I want to go to see my daughters, to hug them, to feel like they are still alive.
From The New York Times, I'm Sabrina Tavernisi, and this is The Daily. After more than a year of war, Israel and Hamas have agreed to a temporary ceasefire.
Relief, I guess, would be the first reaction. I'll be relieved when the hostages are back in Israel. That's when I'll be relieved.
It prompted hope that the war could soon end. I am still worried, afraid of the implementation of this ceasefire agreement. But also worry that the tentative terms could easily fall apart.
I don't know what will happen next.
today, my colleague Patrick Kingsley, on why the agreement finally happened and what it means for Gaza, Israel, and the broader Middle East. It's Thursday, January 16th. Patrick, you've been covering this war since the very start. In fact, we've had you on so many times to explain to us the developments, to really educate us about what's going on there.
And after many failed attempts at a ceasefire, one has finally been agreed on. We're speaking on Wednesday afternoon. So far, what do we know about what it says?
In essence, it's a three-stage ceasefire that could, if all goes well, end up being a permanent truce. The first phase is the only part of the deal that is really nailed down. That's a six-week phase during which 33 hostages, mostly alive but some of them dead, are set to be released by Hamas and its allies, who captured those hostages right at the start of the war on October 7, 2023.
And in exchange, Israel is supposed to release several hundred Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails. And during that six weeks, we also expect Israeli troops to gradually withdraw, allowing
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