JANUARY 17, 2025 – In his final address from the Oval Office, President Joe Biden announced a ceasefire and hostage-exchange deal between Israel and Hamas — a truce that Defense Department officials believe signals a possible end to 15 months of conflict in the region.
Since Hamas kicked off hostilities with a surprise attack on Israeli military personnel and civilians Oct. 7, 2023, DOD has maintained its steadfast commitment to Israel while simultaneously encouraging a diplomatic solution to secure long-term stability in the region.
Last September, in a press conference that addressed Israel’s prolonged military campaign in Gaza, Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder summarized the department’s position.
“Hamas must be held accountable for the murder of innocent civilians,” Ryder said. “But Defense [Department] leaders are committed to swiftly reaching a ceasefire deal that secures the release of all remaining hostages.”
For decades, the U.S. military has participated in joint exercises and provided defense resources to bolster Israel’s ability to deter and counter regional threats. The 2022 National Defense Strategy notes that the U.S. has “a long history of working with Israel and other partners in the Middle East to counter air and missile threats.”
To secure permanent peace, the Biden administration worked alongside regional partners — including Qatari and Egyptian mediators — to press all parties toward a ceasefire. Throughout the negotiations, DOD, in coordination with the State Department and intelligence agencies, stood by to de-escalate tensions and safeguard civilians in the affected areas.
Biden’s speech highlighted the collaboration between his national security team and President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration, which Biden called essential to finalizing the deal in the days following the November election.
In recent weeks, envoys from both the outgoing and incoming White House teams met with Israeli and regional leaders, coordinating efforts to ensure the deal would be in place before the inauguration — a symbolic deadline that hastened the agreement after eight months of negotiations.
Although portions of the arrangement remain sensitive, defense leaders said the ceasefire stipulates that Hamas must stop rocket attacks immediately and release all identified hostages within six weeks. In return, Israel has agreed to halt ongoing military operations within Gaza’s borders. Both sides have also committed to maintaining open channels of communication for further confidence-building measures.
In a statement released yesterday, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III applauded the armistice, offered the department’s condolences to the families of Americans killed during the war, and expressed hope for a lasting peace.
“Israelis and Palestinians need not be doomed to eternal conflict, and with leadership and wisdom, we can make progress toward the day when Israelis and Palestinians live side by side in peace and security in two sovereign states, with mutual security and dignity,” Austin said.
Beyond the Israel-Hamas talks, DOD remains focused on a range of Middle Eastern security issues, from ISIS and Iranian-backed militias — which continue to threaten regional stability — to maritime security in the Red Sea, where Houthi rebels threaten commercial shipping with Iranian-supplied drones and ballistic missiles.
By Army Maj. Wes Shinego, DOD News