On Monday, January 13, 2025, U.S. President Joe Biden announced during a speech on his diplomatic record at the State Department that a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas was “about to be reached.”

He emphasized that his administration was “working urgently to finalize this agreement,” noting that the proposal he had detailed several months earlier was finally coming to fruition.

Ongoing Negotiations and Hostage Release

Negotiations have intensified after 15 months of war, with a particular focus on the release of the 94 hostages still held in Gaza, 34 of whom have been reported dead according to the Israeli military. On December 21, Hamas, along with two other Palestinian groups, had already stated that the possibility of a ceasefire and a prisoner exchange was closer than ever.

Progress in Talks and Internal Obstacles

Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani met with envoys from Joe Biden and Donald Trump, as well as a Hamas delegation, to discuss a ceasefire agreement. The White House also stated that Joe Biden had spoken with the Qatari Emir. Jake Sullivan, the National Security Advisor, added that “we are close to an agreement” and it could be reached this week, though remaining cautious about the outcome.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and a Palestinian official also confirmed progress in the negotiations. However, opposition remains, particularly within the Israeli government, where far-right ministers are rejecting any ceasefire agreement. Minister Bezalel Smotrich notably stated that he would not support a “surrender agreement” that would include the release of “hyper-terrorists” or the end of the war.

As negotiations advance, pressure remains high to release the hostages and establish a lasting ceasefire, despite internal political divisions in Israel and growing expectations ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20.