Gaza ceasefire deal agreed by Israel and Hamas, source tells BBC

Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire in Gaza and a hostage deal following meetings with Qatar’s prime minister, a source briefed on the talks told the BBC.

There was no confirmation from the Israeli government or Hamas, but a Hamas official previously told the BBC that it had approved a draft from mediators from Qatar, the United States and Egypt.

US President-elect Donald Trump, whose envoy participated in the talks, also wrote on social media: “We have a deal for hostages in the Middle East.”

Details of the three-phase plan have not been released, but reports say that 33 of the hostages held by Hamas will be exchanged for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails during the first six weeks of the ceasefire.

Negotiations for the second phase, which should allow for the release of the remaining hostages, a full withdrawal of Israeli troops and “sustainable calm”, would begin after two weeks.

The third and final stage would involve rebuilding Gaza – something that could take years – and returning the bodies of the remaining hostages.

The Israeli military launched a campaign to destroy Hamas in response to the group’s unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, in which some 1,200 people were killed and another 251 were taken hostage.

More than 46,700 people have died in Gaza since then, according to the Hamas-run territory’s Health Ministry. Most of the 2.3 million inhabitants have also been displaced, there is widespread destruction and severe shortages of food, fuel, medicine and shelter as the struggle to get aid to those in need.

Israel says 94 of the hostages are still being held by Hamas, of whom 34 are presumed dead. Additionally, there are four Israelis who were kidnapped before the war, two of whom are dead.