Thu Jan 16 05:17:10 UTC 2025: ## India Welcomes Israel-Hamas Ceasefire and Hostage Release Deal
**Tel Aviv/New Delhi, January 16, 2025** – India has welcomed the ceasefire and hostage-release agreement reached between Israel and Hamas, expressing hope that it will lead to the safe and sustained delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a statement on Thursday praising the deal, reiterating its consistent calls for the release of all hostages, a ceasefire, and a return to dialogue and diplomacy.
The agreement, brokered by Qatar and the United States, was announced on Wednesday. Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani confirmed that a ceasefire, effective Sunday, had been reached between the two sides. Outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden described the negotiations as some of the toughest of his career but expressed deep satisfaction with the outcome. Hamas attributed the ceasefire to the resilience of the Palestinian people and their resistance.
The news follows a deadly October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas that resulted in the kidnapping of Israeli hostages. Protests demanding the safe return of all hostages have taken place in Tel Aviv. The agreement marks a significant step towards ending the conflict in Gaza.
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