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Israel reaches ceasefire agreement with Hamas; Sudan recaptures major city

Israel reaches ceasefire agreement with Hamas; Sudan recaptures major city

Tech spotlight: the Heron TP

15 Jan • Estimated read time: 5 minutes

THE WAR NEWSLETTER — JAN 15 2025

Today’s email brings you news from Israel and Sudan.

1 - ISRAEL

1 thing to know

Israel and terrorist group Hamas have reached a limited ceasefire and hostage release agreement after 15 months of war.

The context

The ceasefire is set to begin Sunday, January 19. The deal outlines a six-week initial ceasefire phase, during which:

Hamas will release 33 Israeli hostages in stages
Israel will release over 1,000 Palestinian terrorist prisoners (approximately 30 terrorists released for each hostage returned)
Israeli forces will partially withdraw from Gaza
600 humanitarian aid trucks will enter Gaza daily

The deal requires Israeli security cabinet approval on Thursday morning. Hamas has indicated some of the 33 hostages selected for release may not be alive and must clarify their status within the first week.

A potential second phase could see the release of the remaining 65 hostages in exchange for a permanent ceasefire. Negotiations for that will begin two weeks into the first phase.

Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya said the deal is a defeat for Israel, while praising the October 7 massacre of 1,200 Israelis.

More from the region

President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office January 20, was first to publicly confirm the deal, calling it "EPIC.” He stated his administration will work to ensure Gaza "NEVER again becomes a terrorist safe haven" and plans to use the momentum to expand the Abraham Accords peace agreements.
Arab officials reported that Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, helped achieve a breakthrough in negotiations during a "tense" weekend meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The outgoing Biden administration struggled to influence Israel's war conduct and negotiations.
Greece is in advanced talks with Israel for a 600-700 million euro deal to purchase 36 PULS rocket artillery systems, alongside negotiations for a 2-billion-euro anti-aircraft and missile defense dome. The systems have a range of up to 300 km and would primarily protect Greece's northeastern borders with Turkey and its Aegean islands.

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TECH SPOTLIGHT: HERON TP

The Heron TP (also known as Eitan) is a medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) for various military and surveillance missions. With a wingspan of 26 meters and a length of 14 meters, the Heron TP is powered by a 1,200-horsepower Pratt & Whitney turboprop engine, allowing it to fly at speeds up to 200 knots and reach altitudes of 45,000 feet.

It can operate for up to 36 hours in various roles, including surveillance, reconnaissance, target acquisition, battle damage assessment, and missile defense. The UAV can carry up to 1,000 kg of payload, including advanced sensors like synthetic aperture radar, electronic warfare systems, and electro-optical cameras.

What it’s used for

The Heron TP is primarily used by the Israeli Air Force, but additional operators include Germany, Greece, and India, who also use it for defense and surveillance purposes.

2 - SUDAN

1 thing to know

The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have recaptured the city of Wad Madani, the tenth largest city in Sudan.

The context

The SAF advanced on the city from the East, South, and West, and first recaptured surrounding towns and villages. Once they reached Wad Madani, the RSF withdrew from the city without engaging the SAF. With the city back in the hands of the army, the frontline is moved further North toward Khartoum State. The city's recapture is a major victory, and will limit the RSF's ability to reach southern areas of Sudan.