Ceasefire deal – but will it last?

Ceasefire deal – but will it last?
By Terry A. Hurlbut
Yesterday, the State of Israel, and the effective government of Gaza, reached a ceasefire agreement. No one knows yet whether this will end the Fourth Arab-Israeli War. Nor does the world know how many hostages that nominal government will reach. But despite attempts by the Biden administration to claim credit, everyone else acknowledges the Trump Effect in bringing it about. In short, had Trump lost his reelection, the world would not now be having this conversation.
What is in that ceasefire deal?
Negotiations took place between the State of Israel and the Islamic Resistance Movement (Arabic Harakah al-Muqāwamah al-Islāmiyyah, abbreviated HAMAS). The Emirate of Qatar, which has played host to HAMAS leaders for years, played host to the negotiations as well. The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews broke a hint on Monday (January 13). They got their hint from The Times of Israel, who in turn cited (but did not link to) Reuters.
Not everyone in Israel was happy with any deal. Bezelel Smotrich, head of the Religious Zionism Party, said it would be a catastrophe. Nevertheless, the deal seemed to be going through the next day, according to Newsmax.
Yesterday, CNN broke the story of a finished ceasefire agreement. CNN maintained one live-update page, then started another one this morning. Another report came in from Jewish Insider. As Charlotte Hazard reported on Just the News, President-elect Donald Trump announced the deal on Truth Social:
WE HAVE A DEAL FOR THE HOSTAGES IN THE MIDDLE EAST. THEY WILL BE RELEASED SHORTLY. THANK YOU!
https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/113833442957238587
Shortly thereafter, Trump offered greater detail:
This EPIC ceasefire agreement could have only happened as a result of our Historic Victory in November, as it signaled to the entire World that my Administration would seek Peace and negotiate deals to ensure the safety of all Americans, and our Allies. I am thrilled American and Israeli hostages will be returning home to be reunited with their families and loved ones.
With this deal in place, my National Security team, through the efforts of Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, will continue to work closely with Israel and our Allies to make sure Gaza NEVER again becomes a terrorist safe haven. We will continue promoting PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH throughout the region, as we build upon the momentum of this ceasefire to further expand the Historic Abraham Accords. This is only the beginning of great things to come for America, and indeed, the World!
We have achieved so much without even being in the White House. Just imagine all of the wonderful things that will happen when I return to the White House, and my Administration is fully confirmed, so they can secure more Victories for the United States!
https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/113833531533520804
HAMAS evidently tried to change the agreement at the last minute, concerning deployment of Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops in the Philadelphi Corridor. That didn’t last.
Due to the strong insistence of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Hamas folded on its last-minute demand to change the deployment of IDF forces in the Philadelphi Corridor. However, several items in the framework have yet to be finalized; we hope that the details will be finalized tonight.
https://x.com/KassyAkiva/status/1879601485626892722
The Jerusalem Post contained the best statement of what the deal provides:
Phase 1:
* 33 hostages released; none confirmed deceased.
* IDF begins staged withdrawal, keeping a Gaza security perimeter.
* Terrorists with life sentences released, excluding October 7 “Nukhba” fighters.
* Lasts 42 days; some IDF presence in the Philadelphi corridor.
Phase 2:
* Talks on more hostage releases and further IDF withdrawals start on day 16.
* Security protocols for Palestinian returnees to northern Gaza.
Phase 3:
* All hostages released; IDF withdraws fully only after their freedom.
The “returnees” are residents of the northern Gaza Strip, who fled south as the IDF invaded.
Details, and disputes over credit claims
Those 33 hostages are all women, children, men over 50, and younger men considered “humanitarian cases.” In exchange, HAMAS gets back 2000 “convicted terrorists,” including 250 serving life sentences, and 1000 prisoners-of-war. But Israel will not release anyone who took part in the atrocities of October 7, 2023. The Post estimates that HAMAS now holds 98 hostages – or as many as still live.
President Biden tried to claim credit:
At long last, I can announce that a ceasefire and a hostage deal has been reached between Israel and Hamas.
https://x.com/POTUS/status/1879635997673009302
The road to this deal has not been easy.
I have worked in foreign policy for decades – this has been one of the toughest negotiations I have ever experienced.
And we have reached this point because of the pressure that Israel built on Hamas backed by the United States.
https://x.com/POTUS/status/1879643481078895059
The elements of the ceasefire and hostage deal is what I laid out in detail this past May – which was embraced by countries around the world.
I’m deeply satisfied this day has finally come, for the sake of the people of Israel and the sake of the families of hostages waiting in agony. And for the sake of innocent people in Gaza who have suffered unimaginable devastation.
https://x.com/POTUS/status/1879640359841763425
A reporter asked President Biden who deserved credit for the ceasefire agreement – him, or Trump. Biden snapped, “Is that a joke?”
https://x.com/EndWokeness/status/1879609312332624276
Later, the State Department admitted that Trump and his team were “absolutely critical” to arranging it.
https://x.com/TrumpWarRoom/status/1879623095696199987
Mohammed Al-Khulaifi, Minister of State in Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also gave Trump full credit. In fact, according to The Western Journal, another Arab official said Trump and his team
did more for a hostage deal in a single meeting than the Biden administration did in a year.
Analysis
The key man turned out to be Steve Witkoff, nominated as Special Envoy to the Middle East. Even Mr. Witkoff’s boss hasn’t taken office yet – and already his team can claim a diplomatic triumph.
Geraldo Rivera said Trump “closed the deal” by “scaring the h@ll out of everybody.”
https://rumble.com/v69s4jp-rivera-says-trump-closed-ceasefire-agreement-by-scaring-the-hell-out-of-eve.html?mref=4teej&mc=88ce6
Having said that, this deal will definitely not please everyone. Of the 98 hostages still unaccounted for, perhaps 60 remain alive. The 33 set for earliest release apparently include those holding American citizenship. Maybe the world can hope these are still alive.
Any released hostage, many will count as a gain. As for HAMAS convicts and prisoners, Israel might regard them as weeds. Pull one up, and another takes his place.
But already at least one patriotic Israeli is upset with Trump over this deal. Avi Abelow, writing in Arutz-7, wonders what Trump is thinking. He says Israel gave up far too much – unless Trump had in mind preventing a worse action by Biden in his final days in office. That could indeed be the problem, because President Biden has been taking many actions Trump will have to reverse. Was Biden planning to bad-mouth Israel at the United Nations? The world will likely never know.
On the other hand, shrill voices on the left aren’t happy, either – as long as Israel still exists.
You pontificate about a free press! I am asking questions after being told by Matt Miller that he will not answer my questions! Criminal! Why aren’t you in The Hague! Why aren’t you in The Hague! Why aren’t you in The Hague!
https://x.com/willy_lowry/status/1879930156644811084
300 reported in Gaza on the receiving end of your bombs! Why did you keep the bombs flowing when we had a deal in May? We all knew we had a deal! Everyone in this room knew we had a deal, Tony and you kept the bombs flowing!
Why did you sacrifice the rules-based order on the mantle of your commitment to Zionism? Why did you allow my friends to be massacred? Why did you allow my friends homes in Gaza to be destroyed when we had a deal in May! You helped destroy our religion, Judaism by associating it with Fascism! You waved the white flag before Netanyahu! You waved the white flag before Israeli fascism!
Your father-in-law was an Israel lobbyist! And your grandfather was an Israel lobbyist! Are you compromised by Israel? Why did you allow the Holocaust of our time to happen? How does it feel to have your legacy be genocide? How does it feel for your legacy to be genocide?
You, too, Matt [Miller]! You smirked through the whole thing! Every day, you smirked through the genocide!
Max Blumenthal
https://x.com/MaxBlumenthal/status/1879926469633487204
Surely the victims of October 7, 2023 would most emphatically disagree with both those men.
Link to:
The article:
https://cnav.news/2025/01/16/editorial/talk/ceasefire-deal-last/

Truths and posts:
https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/113833442957238587
https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/113833531533520804
https://x.com/KassyAkiva/status/1879601485626892722
https://x.com/POTUS/status/1879635997673009302
https://x.com/POTUS/status/1879643481078895059
https://x.com/POTUS/status/1879640359841763425
https://x.com/EndWokeness/status/1879609312332624276
https://x.com/TrumpWarRoom/status/1879623095696199987

Live-update pages:
https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/israel-hamas-gaza-ceasefire-hostages-01-15-24/index.html
https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/israel-hamas-gaza-ceasefire-hostages-01-16-24
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/2025-01-13/live-updates-837303?page=2

Video: Geraldo Rivera’s remarks:
https://rumble.com/v69s4jp-rivera-says-trump-closed-ceasefire-agreement-by-scaring-the-hell-out-of-eve.html?mref=4teej&mc=88ce6

Avi Abelow’s commentary:
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/402378

Two far-left voices:
https://x.com/willy_lowry/status/1879930156644811084
https://x.com/MaxBlumenthal/status/1879926469633487204

Declarations of Truth:
https://x.com/DecTruth

Declarations of Truth Locals Community:
https://declarationsoftruth.locals.com/

Conservative News and Views:
https://cnav.news/

Clixnet Media
https://clixnet.com/