The President's Daily Brief
January 16th, 2025: Israel, Hamas Reach Ceasefire Deal In Gaza & Biden's Parting Gift To Cuba Angers Democrats
16 Jan 2025
In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: We'll begin in the Middle East, where after 15-months of war, Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire deal that will pause fighting in Gaza and see the phased release of the hostages still being held in the battered enclave. Later in the show, an update on the Putin regime’s shadow war against the west, as Poland’s prime minister accuses Russia of planning terror attacks targeting global airlines. Plus, outgoing President Joe Biden stuns both Republicans and Democrats by lifting Cuba’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism. In our 'Back of the Brief' segment, we’ll have an update on the devastating wildfires burning around Los Angeles, as powerful winds returned Wednesday, jeopardizing efforts to contain the blazes. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President’s Daily Brief by visiting PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief. YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Full Episode
Hey, Mike Baker here. Still overseas on a trek through the vast desert, and it is vast. Five riders, ten camels, 700 miles, it's been an amazing experience, all to raise awareness for the UK's Special Forces Benevolent Fund. While I'm out, Mike Slater is stepping in to deliver the President's Daily Brief.
Thanks, Mike. It's Thursday, 16 January 2025. Welcome to the President's Daily Brief. I'm Mike Slater filling in for Mike Baker. Let's get briefed.
Today, we begin in the Middle East, where after 15 months of war and countless failed negotiations, Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire deal that will pause fighting in Gaza and see the phased release of the hostages still being held in the battered enclave.
Later in the show, an update on the Putin regime's shadow war against the West as Poland's prime minister accuses Russia of planning terror attacks targeting global airlines. Plus, outgoing President Joe Biden stuns both Republicans and Democrats by lifting Cuba's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism.
And in today's Back of the Brief, we'll have an update on the devastating wildfires burning around Los Angeles as powerful winds returned Wednesday, jeopardizing efforts to contain the blazes. But first, today's PDB Spotlight.
A diplomatic breakthrough from the Middle East emerged on Wednesday as a ceasefire agreement to end the 15-month war between Israel and Hamas was finally achieved, mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and of course the United States. Qatar's Prime Minister heralded the accord, describing the hard-won agreement as a pivotal first step towards peace.
However, the first phase of the ceasefire must still clear procedural hurdles. According to The Hill, Israel's wartime cabinet will vote on the agreement, followed by Israel's parliamentary body, with appeals to the Supreme Court permitted within 24 hours. If finalized, the ceasefire could start as early as Friday, with the first group of hostages released on Sunday.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office expressed optimism, signaling that although there are still some outstanding details in the framework, they're resolvable. In the initial six weeks of the three-phase agreement, Hamas will release 33 Israeli hostages, prioritizing women, children, the elderly, and the ill.
The hostages will be released incrementally, starting with three on the first day, followed by weekly releases until all 33 are freed. Israel believes the majority of these hostages are alive. President Joe Biden confirmed that American hostages would be among some of the first released during the initial six weeks.
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