The Morning: A cease-fire

Plus, Biden's farewell address, confirmation hearings and an A.I. boyfriend.

View in browser|nytimes.com January 16, 2025 By German Lopez Good morning. We're covering a cease-fire in Gaza. We're also covering Biden's farewell address, confirmation hearings and an A.I. boyfriend. In central Gaza. Abdel Kareem Hana/Associated Press A truce Almost as soon as the war in Gaza began, global leaders began working to stop it. Over 15 months, Israel and Hamas repeatedly rejected proposals for peace. In that time, tens of thousands of Palestinians died. Israeli families grieved for loved ones held as hostages in Gaza. And people around the world protested against the conflict. Yesterday, Israel and Hamas finally agreed to a truce. As part of a six-week cease-fire, Israel will withdraw from parts of Gaza and free hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Hamas will release a third of the hostages it still holds. Officials hope the cease-fire will give way to a permanent peace, but that depends on whether both sides will work out thornier problems later. Israel's government still must ratify the agreement, but officials are treating it as complete. "We're handing off to the next team a real opportunity for a brighter future in the Middle East," President Biden said, referring to Donald Trump's incoming administration. "I hope they take it." What's in the deal? The truce will go into effect on Sunday. Hamas will release 33 hostages in waves over six weeks. They'll include women, children, men over age 50 and sick or wounded people. About 100 hostages remain in Gaza, although about 35 are believed to be dead. In Tel Aviv. Avishag Shaar-Yashuv for The New York Times In exchange, Israel will release around 1,000 Palestinian prisoners. It will also have to allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza. After a week, Israel will withdraw its forces from the most populated areas in the enclave. A major concern remains: Some of the details are vague. "To persuade both sides to sign on, mediators forged an arrangement that is worded so loosely that some of its components remain unresolved, meaning that it could easily collapse," my colleague Patrick Kingsley, reporting from Jerusalem, wrote. Why now? An enduring cease-fire has remained elusive since fighting started on Oct. 7, 2023. (One truce lasted for a week in 2023.) Three main issues drove both sides to a deal now: 1. Israel's successes: After nearly a year and a half of war, Israel has weakened its enemies in the region. It killed many of Hamas's fighters and leaders, including the group's longtime chief in Gaza. It destroyed much of Hezbollah in Lebanon. Iran, which supports Hamas and Hezbollah, has also suffered losses, particularly the fall of an allied regime in Syria. With those wins, another attack like the one on Oct. 7 is less likely, achieving one of Israel's goals in the war. 2. Two presidents' efforts: Biden and Trump have pressured Israel and Hamas to reach a deal before Biden's term ends. Biden saw an armistice as an important part of his legacy. Trump wanted to avoid having to deal with such a difficult issue as president. Both presidents' teams worked together in negotiations, and the final agreement broadly follows a framework Biden proposed in the spring. (My colleague Peter Baker wrote about the joint effort here.) 3. Domestic pressures: Within Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's critics say he has not done enough to free the hostages. Within Gaza, Palestinians have become frustrated with Hamas and demanded peace as the humanitarian crisis caused by the war has worsened. These pressures pushed Israeli and Palestinian leaders to negotiations. What's next? Celebrations in Ramallah.  Afif Amireh for The New York Times Israel's government will most likely ratify the agreement today. After it takes effect on Sunday, both sides will have to live up to their promises. If they don't, the cease-fire could fall apart and fighting could begin again. If the truce holds, negotiators plan to work out a more lasting peace deal in the next six weeks. The terms of a potential agreement remain unknown, although Israel's support might depend on the release of all remaining hostages. Those negotiations will happen under Trump. For more The families of hostages expressed both joy about the deal and anxiety that their loved ones may not be released. Watch video of Palestinians celebrating the news from NBC and follow the latest updates on the cease-fire. "The Daily" podcast explains the cease-fire. THE LATEST NEWS Biden's Farewell In the Oval Office. Doug Mills/The New York Times Biden, in his final Oval Office address, cautioned Americans that the concentration of power among a small group of wealthy people poses a threat to democracy. He also warned of a "tech-industrial complex" and of the dangers posed by unchecked misinformation on social media. Read a transcript. Here's a look at the highs and lows from Biden's time in office. Confirmation Hearings Pam Bondi  Kenny Holston/The New York Times At her confirmation hearing, Pam Bondi, Trump's pick for attorney general, cast herself as an independent prosecutor while also expressing loyalty to Trump. Democrats repeatedly asked Bondi about Kash Patel, Trump's choice to lead the F.B.I., who has said he keeps a list of enemies to prosecute. Bondi said she was unaware of the list, Politico reports. Marco Rubio, Trump's pick for secretary of state, called for an end to the war in Ukraine and voiced support for NATO at his hearing. Senators from both parties appeared almost certain to confirm him. Inauguration Mark Zuckerberg will host a party for Trump's inauguration. The TikTok chief executive will attend the inauguration and has been invited to sit in a position of honor on the dais. In a letter, employees at The Washington Post asked to meet with Jeff Bezos, the company's owner, when he is in town for the inauguration. The Post has been struggling. California Fires In Altadena.  Max Whittaker for The New York Times Forecasters said the recent strong winds could be almost over. This would give the firefighters a chance to contain more of the fires. The fires have hurt the livelihoods of the many day-laborers who worked for wealthy families in neighborhoods across Los Angeles. The wildfires have taken 10 more buildings by noted architects. In a shelter, animals are waiting to be reconnected with their owners. Business The Blue Origin New Glenn rocket. Gregg Newton/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Bezos launched a rocket. The flight is seen as a crucial test of the company's ability to compete with Elon Musk's SpaceX. Consumer prices rose again last month, a sign that the Fed's fight against inflation might have stalled. America's big banks — including JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo and Goldman Sachs — reported stronger-than-expected annual profit. The federal government sued Southwest Airlines over two routes — between Chicago and Oakland, and between Baltimore and Cleveland — that were chronically delayed in 2022. Musk is said to have intervened to help free an Italian journalist from Iran. Other Big Stories The F.D.A. banned Red Dye No. 3, which for decades has given candies and drinks a vibrant red hue. It has been linked to cancer in rats. The Supreme Court appeared supportive of a Texas law that seeks to prevent minors from viewing online porn by requiring a user to show I.D. Black and Hispanic enrollment declined on average at many colleges after the U.S. ended affirmative action, The Times found. Many more students have stopped disclosing their race. The N.Y.P.D. barred officers from chasing drivers who break traffic laws or commit low-level offenses. A federal drug program was designed to give health-care providers access to affordable medications. Instead, one company has used it to make millions while sticking patients with big bills. Opinions Americans are able to ignore the costs of natural disasters caused by climate change because the government keeps insurance prices artificially low, Parinitha Sastry and Ishita Sen argue. Here are columns by Zeynep Tufekci on Zuckerberg and Pamela Paul on geriatricians. Receive free access to handpicked articles via text message. Now you can get Times journalism sent right to your phone. Each article will be accessible for 30 days. Sign up now MORNING READS Ayrin, who is in love with ChatGPT. Helen Orr for The New York Times Virtual love: Meet the 28-year-old woman who spends hours talking to her A.I. boyfriend. Sober: Conscious of the health risks of alcohol, more people are cutting back on drinking. Ask the therapist: In Well's new column, a therapist helps a reader who is sick of being her mother's dumping ground. Social Q's: "Our only friends went away for the weekend without us. We're hurt!" DNA analysis: An ancient cemetery reveals a Celtic tribe that was organized around maternal lineages. Lives Lived: After coaching the University of Colorado's football team, Bill McCartney founded the Promise Keepers, a masculine revivalist group that drew millions of supporters. He died at 84. SPORTS College basketball: Women's teams will now get paid for playing N.C.A.A. tournament games, just as men's teams have for years. College football: Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers declared for the N.F.L. Draft. Soccer: Actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney are part of a group buying a Colombian soccer club, nearly five years after buying the lower-tier English club Wrexham. ARTS AND IDEAS Fitness was very different in the early 1970s: There were few gyms, and people who exercised for fun were regarded as kooky. Over the course of a decade, everything changed. Women embraced fitness via Jazzercise, and yoga found its way into homes across Middle America. Read about five workouts that changed the game. More on culture Drake sued Universal Music Group for defamation and harassment over the release of Kendrick Lamar's diss track "Not Like Us." Test your knowledge of controversial classic books. THE MORNING RECOMMENDS … Armando Rafael for The New York Times Top this chicken and red lentil soup with lemony yogurt. Download your TikTok videos in case the app goes away. Here's a guide. Keep a multimedia journal. Sign up for a razor subscription service. Eat comforting instant noodles. GAMES Here is today's Spelling Bee. Yesterday's pangrams were deputize and deputized. And here are today's Mini Crossword, Wordle, Sudoku, Connections and Strands. Thanks for spending part of your morning with The Times. See you tomorrow. Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. Editor: David Leonhardt Deputy Editor: Adam B. Kushner News Editor: Tom Wright-Piersanti Associate Editor: Lauren Jackson News Staff: Desiree Ibekwe, Sean Kawasaki-Culligan, Brent Lewis, German Lopez, Ian Prasad Philbrick, Ashley Wu News Assistant: Lyna Bentahar Saturday Writer: Melissa Kirsch Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for the Morning newsletter from The New York Times, or as part of your New York Times account. To stop receiving The Morning, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. 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