Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal reached

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Israelis and Gazans react to news of deal

People react to reports of a possible ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages on January 15, 2025 in Tel Aviv.
Amir Levy/Getty Images

People react to reports of a possible hostage release deal in Tel Aviv.

People celebrate as news spreads of a ceasefire and hostage release agreement in Khan Yunis, Gaza, on January 15, 2025.
Bashar Taleb / AFP – Getty Images

People celebrate as news spreads of a possible ceasefire in Khan Yunis, Gaza.

Israel and Hamas reach agreement on Gaza ceasefire and release of hostages

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Andrea Mitchell, Keir Simmons, Raf Sanchez and David Hodari

A ceasefire agreement to end 15 months of fighting in the Gaza Strip has been reached between Hamas and Israeli officials, a source briefed on the talks told NBC News on Wednesday.

The hard-fought deal will also free dozens of hostages held in Gaza, as well as Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, bringing the first real break in violence since a week-long ceasefire expired on December 1, 2023.

The new one follows weeks of talks brokered by the US, Qatar and Egypt amid a brutal winter for civilians in Gaza, as well as dramatic developments in the Middle East that have backfired on Iran, an Israeli foe.

Israel and Hamas have not officially announced a deal, although senior Hamas official Basem Naim confirmed to NBC News that the militant group had accepted it. Another source with direct knowledge of the talks and an Israeli official briefed on the deal also confirmed the news.

Read the whole story here.