Israel and Hamas reach Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal

Israel and Hamas reached a phased Gaza ceasefire and hostage-prisoner exchange deal after more than 15 months of war. The agreement was mediated by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt and was designed to begin with a pause in fighting, hostage releases, prisoner releases, expanded humanitarian aid, and negotiations over later phases. The deal was not the same event as implementation; the ceasefire and first exchange began on January 19, 2025.