While this article aims to cover the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal that was reached on Sunday, January 19, we feel that it would be incomplete without a retelling of the series of events that led to this historic moment, and which form the sociopolitical context for the coming months and years in Palestine-Israel. As such, this timeline will begin with the earliest contemporary ceasefire discussions, which date back as early as November 2023. Some of these events have been covered in our previous timeline articles. Additionally, while this timeline intends to provide a comprehensive overview of the lead-up to the peace deal, it is by no means an extensive history of the conflict across the past 2 years.
November 24 – December 1, 2023: An initial 7-day ceasefire is held in Israel-Palestine to facilitate the release of hostages. 110 hostages were released by Hamas, and approximately 240 were released by Israel. Violence resumes on December 1. This is the first temporary “truce” reached by both parties. Around this same time, discussions of a 3-stage peace deal are being held among Egyptian, Qatari, and American negotiators, alongside representatives from Israel and Palestine.
December 10, 2023: The United States vetoes a ceasefire proposal from The United Nations Security Council. Further debate continues on the 3-stage ceasefire deal.
Ceasefire discussions largely stall from here until June 2024. Though the exact cause of this stalling is contentious, international mediators cite inherently incompatible viewpoints on the future occupation of the Gaza Strip as a primary point of contention between the negotiating parties. Disagreements on the exact terms for a hypothetical hostage exchange, too, likely led to a stalemate in peace talks.
May 2024: Then-president Joe Biden shares that an enduring peace agreement had been reached. This claim was later rebutted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Israeli invasion of Rafah begins in early May.
June 2024: Netanyahu expresses openness to a partial, temporary deal with Hamas with the intent to exchange hostages. This is stipulated with a denial of a permanent ceasefire.
October 2024: Israeli forces invade Southern Lebanon.
November 2024: The International Court of Justice issues warrants for Netanyahu’s arrest.
With this context, we now reach the current day, with:
Sunday, January 19, 2025: Israel and Hamas agree to a 3-stage ceasefire deal that would see the mutual release of hostages from both parties, a “sustainable calm” established, and an eventual rebuilding of the Gaza strip. Both Joe Biden and Donald Trump claim credit for the historic deal.
As for the ceasefire deal itself, it follows a 3-stage process, with each stage lasting around 6 weeks, and requiring affirmed agreement from both sides to continue further. Here is the basic breakdown of what will occur across the coming months.
Phase 1: Beginning of mass prisoner exchanges. As of now, the plan is for 33 Israeli hostages to be released in exchange for 30 Palestinian prisoners each. This will occur alongside a lasting peace and a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
Phase 2: A total release of Israeli hostages from Hamas, followed by a total withdrawal of Israeli military personnel from Gaza.
Phase 3: Discussions on post-war Gazan governance and reconstruction of post-war Palestine begin, alongside the return of Israeli/Palestinian hostage remains to their respective homelands.
