Gaza ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and Hamas, says BBC source

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

There has been no confirmation from the Israeli government or Hamas, but a Hamas official told the BBC earlier that it had approved a plan by Qatari, American and Egyptian mediators.

US President-elect Donald Trump, whose envoy participated in the negotiations, 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 indicate that 33 of the hostages held by Hamas will be exchanged for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons during the first six weeks of the ceasefire.

Negotiations for the second phase – which should see the release of the remaining hostages, a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops and a “lasting calm” – would begin after two weeks.

The third and final step would involve rebuilding Gaza – which 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 approximately 1,200 people were killed and another 251 taken hostage .

Since then, more than 46,700 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry. Most of the 2.3 million people have also been displaced, destruction is widespread and there are severe shortages of food, fuel, medicine and shelter due to the struggle to deliver aid to those who need it.

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