Paul Moss

the BBC's Gaza correspondent Rushdie Abu Alouf. And Hamas have released a statement about the deal. A Hamas official described the ceasefire as a great gain that reflects the legend that had been achieved through the steadfastness of Gaza, its people and the bravery of its resistance. Well, according to BBC Verified, 94 of the 251 hostages taken on October 7th are still in Gaza.

the BBC's Gaza correspondent Rushdie Abu Alouf. And Hamas have released a statement about the deal. A Hamas official described the ceasefire as a great gain that reflects the legend that had been achieved through the steadfastness of Gaza, its people and the bravery of its resistance. Well, according to BBC Verified, 94 of the 251 hostages taken on October 7th are still in Gaza.

60 of them are assumed to be alive still. The families of those taken have gathered once again in a part of Tel Aviv known as Hostage Square. They've been holding up placards with pictures of friends and relatives and chanting. Udi Guren, whose cousin Tal Haimi was killed on October 7th, has been campaigning for the hostages' release for the last 15 months.

60 of them are assumed to be alive still. The families of those taken have gathered once again in a part of Tel Aviv known as Hostage Square. They've been holding up placards with pictures of friends and relatives and chanting. Udi Guren, whose cousin Tal Haimi was killed on October 7th, has been campaigning for the hostages' release for the last 15 months.

He told the BBC that the families are anxiously waiting to see their relatives again.

He told the BBC that the families are anxiously waiting to see their relatives again.

It may have been Qatar which hosted the peace talks, but of course the US was very much in the room, sometimes literally, but always a presence in trying to nudge the two sides together. That said, the US never made any bones about being Israel's ally in this conflict, supplying it with both weapons and diplomatic support.

It may have been Qatar which hosted the peace talks, but of course the US was very much in the room, sometimes literally, but always a presence in trying to nudge the two sides together. That said, the US never made any bones about being Israel's ally in this conflict, supplying it with both weapons and diplomatic support.

Nonetheless, when welcoming the deal, Joe Biden expressed hope it would bring relief to both sides.

Nonetheless, when welcoming the deal, Joe Biden expressed hope it would bring relief to both sides.

Joe Biden may still be president, but before he spoke about the ceasefire agreement, Donald Trump was taking credit for the influence played by him and his team. And they did actually play an important role, as our State Department correspondent Tom Bateman explained to me.

Joe Biden may still be president, but before he spoke about the ceasefire agreement, Donald Trump was taking credit for the influence played by him and his team. And they did actually play an important role, as our State Department correspondent Tom Bateman explained to me.

Tom Bateman in Washington, you've been listening to a special edition of the Global News podcast. A ceasefire deal in Gaza has been announced with an end to Israeli attacks on Palestinians and Israeli hostages released. It's due to start on January the 19th. With his thoughts on the wider implications of the deal, here's our international editor, Jeremy Bowen.

Tom Bateman in Washington, you've been listening to a special edition of the Global News podcast. A ceasefire deal in Gaza has been announced with an end to Israeli attacks on Palestinians and Israeli hostages released. It's due to start on January the 19th. With his thoughts on the wider implications of the deal, here's our international editor, Jeremy Bowen.

And that's all from us for now, but there'll be a new edition of the Global News Podcast very soon. If you want to comment on this podcast or the topics covered in it, you can send us an email. The address is globalpodcast at bbc.co.uk. You can also find us on X at Global News Pod. This edition was mixed by Jack Wilfan and the producer was Alison Davis. The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Paul Moss.

And that's all from us for now, but there'll be a new edition of the Global News Podcast very soon. If you want to comment on this podcast or the topics covered in it, you can send us an email. The address is globalpodcast at bbc.co.uk. You can also find us on X at Global News Pod. This edition was mixed by Jack Wilfan and the producer was Alison Davis. The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Paul Moss.

Until next time, goodbye.

Until next time, goodbye.

The man released is Mohammed Abedini. He's described as an Iranian businessman. The United States says he supplied drone parts used by Iran's Revolutionary Guards, which is subject to sanctions. And they say these then were used in an attack on U.S. servicemen based in Jordan near the Syrian border. That happened last January and three American service personnel were killed. So the U.S.

The man released is Mohammed Abedini. He's described as an Iranian businessman. The United States says he supplied drone parts used by Iran's Revolutionary Guards, which is subject to sanctions. And they say these then were used in an attack on U.S. servicemen based in Jordan near the Syrian border. That happened last January and three American service personnel were killed. So the U.S.