[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":56,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6384746,"mediaKeyId","2121559-4288c3cea21ca21d791ff6699aec0f24","parentId",2121559,"title","U.S. says Gaza ceasefire, hostage deal will start Sunday; credits months of diplomacy","audioSeconds",3482,"startMs",3119000,"endMs",6601000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2121559-4288c3cea21ca21d791ff6699aec0f24&start=3119&end=6601","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2121559-4288c3cea21ca21d791ff6699aec0f24/thumbnail_3119000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6384746/US-says-Gaza-ceasefire-hostage-deal-will-start-Sunday-credits-months-of-diplomacy","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6384746-58e24ec51e2d5d1f0573d204ec54ce57/orig.mp4?Expires=1775406439&Signature=lDpk8oS~K~cQPljHcJkhxoOVcT3KxFSMsNj4Fwus1J-60Ksy9zHx16JyJGVjX6VwIoo1IfHVTYTLReiRozLoC-eLPMeKZJC4Nq~~RGFj0juOrKG1pwf9LURx4OBpmr~dpBndKaHc~Y0AgDIQDk75kWaK6Z0~lT9jj4pDrfcXOHuR1zfv~oHlEMWBOFtPEGwVzYCh4DBwWc4Zus7~hu2Rnfzs65U~re9K-5RRc80PdHwfiB~woBtuYUhCYELEtETiSBi94FOAfahVuij6uM8BLfot4al~O7eqPErXYEzJ3neFwNbVVDgeyVRXRmOGfB~wgzDJWt8Q6s5R5sSNXpjEuw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-01-16T17:42:32Z","article","The Secretary of State said Sunday that implementation of a Gaza ceasefire and hostage agreement is expected to begin on Sunday after more than 15 months of negotiation involving the United States, Qatar and Egypt.

The secretary told reporters the administration \"worked to broker a deal that would bring hostages home, that would stop the fighting, that would surge humanitarian aid ... and that would create the space to conclude a permanent ceasefire.\" He said, \"We now have that, and we expect implementation of the agreement to begin on Sunday.\"

Why it matters: The secretary framed the agreement as the result of sustained U.S. diplomacy. He said President Biden publicly put forward a detailed framework in May that helped isolate Hamas and drew global endorsement, including a UN Security Council backing that, in the secretary's account, changed Hamas's calculus and moved it back to the negotiating table.

Details and context: The secretary named Qatar and Egypt as ‘‘extraordinary’’ mediators and singled out U.S. officials Jake Sullivan, Bill Burns and Brett McGurk for their roles in the talks. He said the U.S. and partners negotiated a phased approach in which the first phase includes a six‑week ceasefire, release of hostages and a surge of humanitarian assistance. He added that the work that follows must finalize Gaza’s transitional governance, security arrangements and reconstruction to make any halt in fighting endure.

The secretary described obstacles to a deal as including Hamas’s repeated refusals to agree in earlier rounds and the group’s strategy of embedding among civilians; he also said that actions taken by the U.S. and by other regional actors helped isolate Hamas and change the dynamics on the ground. He said, as one concrete point, that the U.S. had privately urged partners such as Qatar and Turkey to use their influence to bring Hamas back to the table.

The secretary said the United States will hand to the incoming administration the work to implement the agreement and stressed that it was important the next administration endorse carrying forward the commitments in order to assure the parties that implementation would continue.

U.S. and allied roles: The secretary said the United States rallied international support for the Biden administration's May proposal, winning endorsements that increased pressure on Hamas. He also credited diplomatic and deterrent measures directed at Iran and proxy groups for reducing the risk of a broader regional conflagration. \"Our diplomacy, our deterrence really isolated Hamas to the point where they finally came back to the table,\" he said.

Numbers and specific references given on the record: the secretary said the mediation process lasted more than 15 months; he referenced a first phase of six weeks in the proposed framework; and he noted that several Americans remain among the hostages to be released. He did not provide a full, itemized list of hostages or a detailed implementation timetable beyond saying implementation would begin Sunday.

What remains unresolved: The secretary said the parties still must finalize and agree to post‑conflict arrangements that would govern Gaza’s security, reconstruction and the terms under which Israeli forces would withdraw and remain out. He emphasized that those details will determine whether a ceasefire is enduring.

Ending note: The secretary thanked colleagues and partners and said the agreement represented a \"moment of tremendous relief for Israelis and Palestinians alike,\" while urging political courage and compromise to translate the initial steps into sustained progress.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Secretary Blinken delivers remarks to the press from the press briefing room - 11:00 AM","oneSentenceSummary","The Secretary of State said Sunday that implementation of a Gaza ceasefire and hostage agreement is expected to begin on Sunday after more than 15 months of negotiation involving the United States, Qatar and Egypt.","taxTitle","US Department of State","taxId",9719,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":56,"_72":56,"_73":56},6384734,"Secretary cites U.S. leadership for keeping Ukraine sovereign, urges durable deterrence in any ceasefire",2921,3278000,6199000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2121559-4288c3cea21ca21d791ff6699aec0f24&start=3278&end=6199","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2121559-4288c3cea21ca21d791ff6699aec0f24/thumbnail_3278000.jpg","/articles/6384734/Secretary-cites-US-leadership-for-keeping-Ukraine-sovereign-urges-durable-deterrence-in-any-ceasefire","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6384734-62aa5da54695c74467924edfa102b2e5/orig.mp4?Expires=1775406439&Signature=gXnDLu6ON~DlIcpBDmwCW0LjmOVeuF6~ATmhpDamXu~3q-LSoSvQLD2ts7Vc8TvCV7j9X38BlyU6FNuLJKO97luNhn8FELUmQsFT8tRIHxrlDOC9pZc0UKG8cmWTGe6igxfnuWnRtwr-OklUzs90bLYTQvI1U-J88n8KPuD8x3nef-Lh-xLK5jpJerzJOSYJLOHIuVRjAtoP-YfUwm6Pk15zyLhj7IxaIOI32BuXxUATUQKh9lTrQWvb5QcRfdWkoPgLemkuw9oxT18nSWsA6f~W13HiMx8jEo4Uadp2Tj4Ngw0B6pniZl-0nkSAFiyKWk3m~aT~k1wzBV29yuOvfA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The secretary said U.S. leadership helped assemble and hold together an international coalition of roughly 50 countries to help Ukraine defend itself from Russia’s invasion and that those efforts helped Ukraine retake territory it had lost.

He said the United States and partners imposed ‘‘the most ambitious sanctions and export controls ever on Russia’’ and that those measures, together with battlefield losses, have imposed severe costs on Moscow. The secretary described steps that cut Europe’s reliance on Russian energy and said recent sanctions have hindered Russia’s ability to sell oil, citing tankers unable to offload at Chinese ports as an example.

Looking forward, the secretary said any negotiated ceasefire or settlement must include credible deterrence to prevent Russia from using a pause to regroup and reattack. He argued that a durable deal would require mechanisms that make re‑attack costly and difficult for Moscow and that European partners will play key roles in arranging those safeguards.

Why it matters: The comments summarize the administration’s rationale for sustained support to Ukraine and the combination of military assistance, sanctions and international coordination meant to preserve Ukrainian independence and increase Moscow’s costs for renewed aggression.

Details and context: The secretary estimated, citing assessments, very large Russian casualties and described an erosion of Russian industrial and human capital that has increased the cost and difficulty of further Russian operations. He said the objective was to keep Ukraine \"in a position of strength\" so it can choose whether to fight on or negotiate from leverage.

What was not said: The secretary did not announce new aid packages or specific commitments in the briefing. He said implementation and future steps will be matters for the incoming administration and European partners to take forward in cooperation with Kyiv.

Ending note: The secretary said the United States has placed Ukraine in a stronger position and expressed hope that continued international coordination can turn that strategic position into a durable peace only if deterrence is built into any ceasefire.","The secretary said U.S. leadership helped rally about 50 countries to assist Ukraine, credited sanctions and export controls for constraining Russia, and warned that any ceasefire must include effective deterrence to prevent renewed Russian attack.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":56,"_72":56,"_73":56},6384739,"State Department says it continues assessments of international‑law claims in Gaza; expects press access during ceasefire",1824,4662000,6486000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2121559-4288c3cea21ca21d791ff6699aec0f24&start=4662&end=6486","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2121559-4288c3cea21ca21d791ff6699aec0f24/thumbnail_4662000.jpg","/articles/6384739/State-Department-says-it-continues-assessments-of-internationallaw-claims-in-Gaza-expects-press-access-during-ceasefire","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6384739-f49e06080e56b6c55c0e290760b562d8/orig.mp4?Expires=1775406439&Signature=P4xOdIi~CoSLzWf0eaT17Fz2mPKEzAS-mqWLMwGO9e2YZKUjeATcDfenLDH5zrlvaifY5SFfGGN~fjIhvHMphglp6oWP9VoU6V7uiK8DDer6OLWm2iJp72Rbkuv9Y-lcniiaa5vzfJPfK9t2nxQ9-cKamw2zoSKOo~Z8uZbBw1rlGPNUt7vVTLDue4D7KgmUxSKGd8CQUDgmNPlH8PHFSaSTLI~z8Tay20cKf30d-KSIlWSpcpMM5L8I8BpuNssMY~17a5hLefu7ijaZOsDvWO4so4KrnDIdzdlJe~U9k2JM8BfdTFNyaLI-3oPIwIOAbMF4q3oeT868bJnY7Yxp5A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The secretary said the State Department is continuing to gather information and assess allegations of violations of international humanitarian law in Gaza, describing the task as \"incredibly complicated\" because of the densely populated environment and the embedding of militants among civilians.

The secretary told reporters that because militants operate \"in and among civilians — houses, hospitals, mosques, schools\" — it is difficult to reach immediate, definitive determinations about individual incidents in real time. He said the department is \"continuing to gather the information\" and \"if we have any conclusions that we can draw in the time that remains, we will.\"

He also said Israel is conducting hundreds of investigations internally and pointed to cases where the U.S. has taken actions in response to abuses in the West Bank, saying those were steps the department has taken \"for the first time\" against extremist settlers.

On press access, the secretary said it remains the U.S. expectation that international journalists will be allowed into Gaza during a ceasefire phase, adding that it is important \"that all of you and your colleagues are able to report, are able to share with the world, what the reality is.\"

Why it matters: Determinations about violations of international humanitarian law can affect diplomatic steps, sanctions decisions and international legal proceedings. The secretary emphasized that such determinations require careful legal review and evidence gathering and that, where possible, the U.S. looks to Israeli domestic processes as part of those inquiries.

What was not said: The secretary did not issue a final, on‑the‑record legal determination regarding whether specific incidents in Gaza constitute violations of international humanitarian law; he said the department is continuing to investigate and will report conclusions if possible. He also did not provide a timetable for when any formal determinations might be released.

Ending note: The secretary noted follow‑up mechanisms are in place and reiterated that press access during a ceasefire is an expectation the United States will press for publicly and privately.","The secretary said the department continues to gather information and assess whether international humanitarian law violations occurred in Gaza and noted the complexity of making determinations in real time. He said he expects international journalists to be allowed into Gaza during a ceasefire phase.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

U.S. says Gaza ceasefire, hostage deal will start Sunday; credits months of diplomacy

Secretary cites U.S. leadership for keeping Ukraine sovereign, urges durable deterrence in any ceasefire

State Department says it continues assessments of international‑law claims in Gaza; expects press access during ceasefire