Israel-Hamas Ceasefire, Hostage Exchange Confirmed by Netanyahu After Delays

Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire and hostage deal after several days of uncertainty.

The Details: In the deal, which is expected to take effect Sunday, Hamas will release 33 hostages to Israel in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would convene his security Cabinet and the government to ratify the agreement on Friday afternoon.

Delays:  Earlier this week, reports surfaced that a ceasefire deal was near. Incoming President Donald Trump first publicly confirmed the deal’s existence on his platform Truth Social on Wednesday, and President Biden announced it in a public address a few hours later  But until Friday morning, Netanyahu had said a “last-minute crisis” was holding up his approval.

How The Media Covered It: Left-rated outlets were more likely to highlight how Palestinian officials said at least 72 people had been killed by Israeli bombs in Gaza in the days since the agreement was made public. Last updated on January 17 at 7:26 am. ET.