IPresident Joe Biden confirmed Wednesday afternoon that Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire that would halt fighting in Gaza for six weeks and release hostages and Palestinian prisoners.

Biden, flanked by Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, announced on Wednesday that Hamas and its allied armed groups expected to release 33 hostages seized from Israel during the Oct. 7, 2023 attack. The hostages are expected to include all women, children and the elderly who were captured more than a year ago and are still alive.

Biden said the first phase of the deal would also include a complete ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli troops from densely populated areas of Gaza and plans to release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

Biden went on to say that the second phase of the deal would include the remaining hostages held in Gaza, including male soldiers, as well as the remaining Israeli troops leaving Gaza.

"This is a very good afternoon, and the road to this agreement has not been easy," Biden said.

Biden acknowledged that his administration worked with Trump advisers to complete the deal. "Much of its provisions will be implemented by the next administration," Biden said. "We have been speaking as a team over the past few days."

News of the deal broke Wednesday morning, with President-elect Donald Trump posting about it on his social media platform, Truth Social. "We have reached an agreement for the hostages in the Middle East. They will be released soon. Thank you!"

Hamas plans to release three hostages on the first day of the ceasefire, and then four more on the seventh day, the Associated Press reported. After that, it will be published weekly. The first batch of 33 hostages is expected to include five female Israeli soldiers, and each hostage will be released in exchange for 50 Palestinian prisoners, including 30 militants serving life sentences.

In a statement released early Wednesday, Biden attributed the deal to a variety of factors, including "intense pressure on Hamas," "Iran's decline in the region" and "tenacious and hard-working U.S. diplomacy." ".

The news comes as UNICEF reports that at least 74 children have been killed in the Gaza Strip in the first seven days of 2025 alone.

"Children were reportedly killed in multiple mass casualty incidents, including nighttime attacks in Gaza City, Khan Younis and the unilaterally designated 'safe zone' of Mawasi in the south," UNICEF wrote. "Yesterday In the latest attack, five children were reportedly killed in Mawasi."

Biden said the third phase of the deal would include a "major reconstruction plan" for Gaza and the return of the final remains of slain hostages.

Some Israeli officials warned that details of the deal were still being worked out, according to a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office.