Hostages returning home after Israel and Hamas reach ceasefire agreement

(KBSI) – A little after 1:00 pm today, January 15, 2025 President Joe Biden confirmed a cease fire deal between Hamas and Israel.

This comes after months of fighting and air strikes in the middle east.

It’s been more than 15 months since Hamas led militant groups led an attack on Israel. Killing more than 1200 people and taking hundreds hostage.

Now a ceasefire agreement has been reached. According to President Biden the cease fire agreement will consist of three phases and involve the release of hostages.

Carey Smolensky is the founder of the Shalom Passion Initiative he says he believes any release of hostages is a step in the right direction. 

“If there’s any hope for the release of hostages that is definently a step in the right direction and Israel has bent over time and time again along with the United States brokering this deal which I believe has been since early 2024″ says Smolensky. “So, it’s really a matter of will Hamas keep their word this time at this moment in time and what is their ulterior motive, what is the agenda.” 

The ceasefire agreement will take weeks with the first phase scheduled to last 42 days. Biden says the first phase of the agreement will allow for the release of women, elderly, wounded and Americans from Hamas and allow for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners from Israel.  

“As long as theres hope right now to bring back human life then it’s a good thing. Is it a good deal for Israel in a strategic or political sense that is irrelevant. These hostages have been held for an insane length of time” says Smolensky.

Smolensky shares that he believes peace in the middle east won’t last until generational teachings are changed for Hamas.  

“I don’t see peace happening on a lasting level until there’s an entire change. I mean you’re dealing with an enemy that has been brought up from childhood with misinformation, with hatred towards Jews in Israel, with educational materials that are to hate the Jews.” 

Smolensky saying the important factor is families being reunited and hostages returning home…

“Ya know I understand from the families of the hostages that there’s hope that their loved ones come back but unfortunately because Israel and the Jewish people value life over death” says Smolensky. This is what we have to do.” 

The Ceasefire agreement is supposed to take effect on Sunday January 19, 2025.