The first phase, spanning a 42-day ceasefire, would see the exchange of 33 Israeli hostages in Gaza for Palestinians held in Israeli prisons, U.S. officials said.

The deal, not yet formally announced, outlines a six-week initial ceasefire phase and includes the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and release of hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian detainees held by Israel.

Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire deal to pause the devastating war in the Gaza Strip, multiple officials announced Wednesday.

U.S., Qatari and Egyptian mediators shuttled between the Israeli and Hamas delegations in Doha on Tuesday, where officials said a deal to halt the war is near.

Hamas is expected to release 33 hostages in the first phase of the ceasefire-hostage agreement being negotiated in Doha in relation to the situation in Gaza, CNN reported on

Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire deal, mediators announced Wednesday, pausing a devastating 15-month war in the Gaza Strip and raising the possibility of winding

If confirmed, the agreement would pause fighting which has raged in Gaza for more than a year and see a number of hostages released.

USA TODAY World Affairs Correspondent Kim Hjelmgaard breaks down what a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas means for the conflict going forward. President Joe Biden says farewell to the nation. USA TODAY White House Reporter Zac Anderson recaps a busy day of Senate confirmation hearings.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that a “last-minute crisis” with Hamas was holding up Israeli approval of a long-awaited ceasefire that would pause the fighting in the Gaza Strip and release do

WE HAVE A DEAL FOR THE HOSTAGES IN THE MIDDLE EAST,” President-elect Donald Trump wrote on social media. “THEY WILL BE RELEASED SHORTLY. THANK YOU!”