this very day by day, but this argument has a clear mechanism for the first a0 doozies and there's a clear mechanism to negotiate phase two and three and all phases will be published in the next few days once the details are finalised. you're watching a news conference with the qatari prime ministerjust confirming that there has been an agreement between won and israel, that there would be a cease—fire in gaza and a hostage release programme starting on generally the 19th in the first phase, 33 israeli hostages to be released. as continue to listen to the qatari prime minister, the qataris who have mediated this peace process. what contributed to the success of the _ what contributed to the success of the mediation and what will the qatari role be in the implementation of the agreement because _ implementation of the agreement because you had me lost as i

was — because you had me lost as i was focused on number one. can you focused _ was focused on number one. can you focused on the questions. question— you focused on the questions. question number one do you believe — question number one do you believe the ceasefire deal will lead _ believe the ceasefire deal will lead to — believe the ceasefire deal will lead to a _ believe the ceasefire deal will lead to a permanent believe the ceasefire deal will lead to a perr be ent believe the ceasefire deal will lead to a perr be announcing the where we will be announcing the complete withdrawal and the ends of the war. a series of measures will be taken in the next few days in order to

reinforce and shield this agreement. between today and sunday when the agreement enter into force what with the situation be like in the gaza strip? of course we ask that the situation be calm between today and sunday. however the parties recognise that the agreement requires a couple of days and in orderfor agreement requires a couple of days and in order for its articles to be implemented correctly and its engagements to be on us and we hope that over the next few days there will not be any aggressions or military operations. last question, what is it that the success of the mediation efforts, what role did qatar play. as i mentioned earlier at the end of the day it all goes back to the parties of the agreement and qatar and our partners at the end of the day we are mediators. we are trying to bring viewpoints closer together and bridge any gaps

between the two sides. of course the success of the agreement depends on a number of factors and there are a number of variables that are happening around this. i cannot go into the details but as i stated earlier, in the past few days there were some serious efforts by all partners. we were all working as a single team in order to come up to the agreement that was reached today. we had back—to—back meetings over the past four days. we were communicating continuously at those meetings in the presence of the qatari delegation, the egyptian delegation... we delegation, the egyptian delegation. . ._ delegation, the egyptian delegation... we will now listen to _ delegation... we will now listen to president - delegation... we will now listen to president biden. i delegation... we will now. listen to president biden. at lona listen to president biden. at long last i can announce a ceasefire _ long last i can announce a ceasefire and a hostage deal has been reached between israel and hamas. more than 15 months of conflict — and hamas. more than 15 months of conflict began with hezbollah brutal massacre on october — hezbollah brutal massacre on october the 7th and 15 months of terror— october the 7th and 15 months of terror for the hostages, the families, — of terror for the hostages, the families, the israeli people.

more — families, the israeli people. more than 15 months of suffering by the innocent people _ suffering by the innocent people of gaza. fighting in gaza — people of gaza. fighting in gaza and soon the hostages will return _ gaza and soon the hostages will return home to their families. the elements of this deal were those — the elements of this deal were those i— the elements of this deal were those i laid out in detail in may— those i laid out in detail in may which was embraced by countries around the world and endorsed — countries around the world and endorsed overwhelmingly by the united _ endorsed overwhelmingly by the united security council. the deal — united security council. the deal is — united security council. the deal is structured in three phases _ deal is structured in three phases. phase one will last six weeks — phases. phase one will last six weeks it— phases. phase one will last six weeks. it includes a full and complete ceasefire, withdrawal of israeti — complete ceasefire, withdrawal of israeli forces from all the populated areas of gaza. and the release of a number of hostages held by hamas including women and elderly and the wounded. and i am proud to say americans pointed a hostage retease _ say americans pointed a hostage release in — say americans pointed a hostage release in phase one. the vice president— release in phase one. the vice president and i cannot wait to welcome _ president and i cannot wait to welcome them home. israel will

release — welcome them home. israel will release hundreds of palestinian prisoners— release hundreds of palestinian prisoners during phase one the palestinians could also return to the — palestinians could also return to the neighbourhoods in all areas — to the neighbourhoods in all areas of— to the neighbourhoods in all areas of gaza. humanitarian assistance in gaza will begin and innocent people can have greater— and innocent people can have greater access to these vital supplies. during the next six weeks — supplies. during the next six weeks israel will negotiate the necessary arrangements to get phase _ necessary arrangements to get phase two which is a permanent end of— phase two which is a permanent end of the — phase two which is a permanent end of the war. let me say that again- — end of the war. let me say that again- a — end of the war. let me say that again— a permanent end of the war _ again— a permanent end of the war there _ again— a permanent end of the war. there are a number of details _ war. there are a number of details to— war. there are a number of details to negotiate the move from — details to negotiate the move from phase one to phase two but the plan — from phase one to phase two but the plan says, if negotiations take — the plan says, if negotiations take longer than six weeks the ceasefire — take longer than six weeks the ceasefire will continue, as long — ceasefire will continue, as long as _ ceasefire will continue, as long as the negotiations continue. i have spoken to the emir— continue. i have spoken to the emir of— continue. i have spoken to the emir of kuwait and the president of egypt and we have pledged to make sure the negotiation will keep moving forward _ negotiation will keep moving forward for as long as it

takes _ forward for as long as it takes. then, when phase two begins — takes. then, when phase two begins. there will be an exchange and release of the remaining living hostages, including male soldiers and remaining israeli forces will be withdrawn from gaza. and the temporary — be withdrawn from gaza. and the temporary ceasefire will become permanent. and finally phase three — permanent. and finally phase three. any final remains of hostages who have been killed will be — hostages who have been killed will be returned to their families. and a major reconstruction plan for gaza will begin. this is the ceasefire agreement i introduced last spring. today hamas— introduced last spring. today hamas have agreed to that ceasefire agreement. and ending the war — ceasefire agreement. and ending the war. those of you who have followed — the war. those of you who have followed the negotiations can attest. — followed the negotiations can attest, the road to this deal has — attest, the road to this deal has not _ attest, the road to this deal has not been easy. i have worked _ has not been easy. i have worked in foreign policy for decades. this is one of the toughest _ decades. this is one of the toughest negotiations i have ever— toughest negotiations i have ever experienced. we have reached _ ever experienced. we have reached this point because of

the pressure that israel built on hamas backed by the united states — on hamas backed by the united states. hamas long—time leader was killed. its strongest supporter of iran launched attacks _ supporter of iran launched attacks in israel. those attacks _ attacks in israel. those attacks failed after my administration organised a coalition of measures to stop thern — coalition of measures to stop them. and after i ordered us ships— them. and after i ordered us ships and _ them. and after i ordered us ships and planes to come to the defence — ships and planes to come to the defence. destroying around's air defences. avoiding an escalatory cycle and all—out war — escalatory cycle and all—out war the _ escalatory cycle and all—out war. the united states also organised a coalition of 20 countries to stand up to attacks _ countries to stand up to attacks by the houthis, including missile attacks on israet~ _ including missile attacks on israel. then hezbollah, one of harnas's— israel. then hezbollah, one of hamas's strongest backers were significantly weakened. israel

negotiated a ceasefire with them — negotiated a ceasefire with them and after that lebanon finally— them and after that lebanon finally elected a new president who is— finally elected a new president who is not beholden to hezbollah and they can begin a new chapter for the lebanese people — new chapter for the lebanese people. all told these developments in the region, which — developments in the region, which the united states helped to shape, change the equation. and so— to shape, change the equation. and so now the terror network that _ and so now the terror network that once _ and so now the terror network that once protected and sustained hamas is far weaker. iran sustained hamas is far weaker. iran is— sustained hamas is far weaker. iran is weaker. iran is weaker than— iran is weaker. iran is weaker than it— iran is weaker. iran is weaker than it has— iran is weaker. iran is weaker than it has been in decades. hezbollah is degraded. and after— hezbollah is degraded. and after more than 15 months of war hamas's senior leaders are dead _ war hamas's senior leaders are dead. thousands of hamas fighters _ dead. thousands of hamas fighters are dead and military formations have been destroyed. they— formations have been destroyed. they have — formations have been destroyed. they have nowhere to turn. harnas _ they have nowhere to turn. hamas finally agreed to return hostages. there was no other way— hostages. there was no other way for— hostages. there was no other way for this war to end than with— way for this war to end than with a — way for this war to end than with a hostage deal and i am deeply— with a hostage deal and i am deeply satisfied that this day

has finally come for the sake of the — has finally come for the sake of the people of israel and the families— of the people of israel and the families waiting in agony. and for the — families waiting in agony. and for the sake of innocent people in gaza — for the sake of innocent people in gaza who suffered unimaginable devastation because of the war. the palestinian people have gone through— palestinian people have gone through hell. too many innocent people _ through hell. too many innocent people have died. too many communities have been destroyed and this— communities have been destroyed and this deal, the people of gaza — and this deal, the people of gaza can _ and this deal, the people of gaza can finally recover and rebuild _ gaza can finally recover and rebuild. they could look to a future — rebuild. they could look to a future without hamas in power. the bible — future without hamas in power. the bible says, bless it on the peacemakers. many peacemakers peacemake rs. many peacemake rs hetbed _ peacemakers. many peacemakers helped make this happen, including an extraordinary team of american diplomats who have worked — of american diplomats who have worked nonstop for months to -et worked nonstop for months to get this— worked nonstop for months to get this done. antony blinken led get this done. antony blinken ted the — get this done. antony blinken led the effort. jake sullivan. bill byrne. brett mcgurk. the vice president worked

relentlessly as we work to deliver _ relentlessly as we work to deliver this deal. i also know this— deliver this deal. i also know this deal— deliver this deal. i also know this deal was developed and negotiated by administration but its — negotiated by administration but its terms will be implemented the most part by the next — implemented the most part by the next administration. in these _ the next administration. in these past few days we have been — these past few days we have been speaking as one team. this has been — been speaking as one team. this has been a — been speaking as one team. this has been a time of real turmoil in the — has been a time of real turmoil in the middle east but as i prepare _ in the middle east but as i prepare to leave office our friends _ prepare to leave office our friends are strong, our enemies are weak. — friends are strong, our enemies are weak, and there is a genuine— are weak, and there is a genuine opportunity for a new future — genuine opportunity for a new future in _ genuine opportunity for a new future. in lebanon there is an opportunity for a future free from — opportunity for a future free from the _ opportunity for a future free from the grip of hezbollah. in syria — from the grip of hezbollah. in syria a — from the grip of hezbollah. in syria a future free from the tyranny _ syria a future free from the tyranny of assad. and for the palestinian people a credible pathway to a state of their own and for — pathway to a state of their own and for the region, pathway to a state of their own and forthe region, a pathway to a state of their own and for the region, a future of normalisation, integration, of israet— normalisation, integration, of israet and _ normalisation, integration, of israel and all its arab neighbours, including saudi arabia _

neighbours, including saudi arabia. the 620 in delhi in september 20 203i rallied key countries who had an economic vision — countries who had an economic vision of— countries who had an economic vision of corridor. that vision can— vision of corridor. that vision can now— vision of corridor. that vision can now become a reality. there are risks — can now become a reality. there are risks as— can now become a reality. there are risks as well, including isis— are risks as well, including isis in— are risks as well, including isis in iran. even in a badly weakened _ isis in iran. even in a badly weakened state. but we are handing _ weakened state. but we are handing off a real opportunity for a — handing off a real opportunity for a better future for the middle _ for a better future for the middle east. i hope they will take — middle east. i hope they will take it _ middle east. i hope they will take it. let me close with this _ take it. let me close with this life _ take it. let me close with this. life friends in the senate, _ this. life friends in the senate, who did so much to forge — senate, who did so much to forge peace in northern ireland, once said about diplomacy, said it is 700 days of failure _ diplomacy, said it is 700 days of failure and one day of success _ of failure and one day of success. 700 days of failure and — success. 700 days of failure and one _ success. 700 days of failure and one of success. we have had many— and one of success. we have had many difficult days since hamas began _ many difficult days since hamas began its — many difficult days since hamas began its terrible war. we have encountered roadblocks and setbacks. we have not given up. and now. — setbacks. we have not given up. and now, after 400 days

setbacks. we have not given up. and now, a