Live Update
From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, January 15, 2025
‘WE HAVE A DEAL’: Trump becomes first leader to announce hostage-ceasefire deal, besting Biden
Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief

US President-elect Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Republican governors at Mar-a-Lago, January 9, 2025, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
US President-elect Donald Trump becomes the first person familiar with the negotiations to publicly confirm, on-record, that a hostage release and ceasefire deal has been reached.
“WE HAVE A DEAL FOR THE HOSTAGES IN THE MIDDLE EAST. THEY WILL BE RELEASED SHORTLY. THANK YOU!” Trump writes on Truth Social.
Outgoing US President Joe Biden has yet to issue a statement.