Gaza ceasefire deal agreed by Israel and Hamas, a source told the BBC

Israel and Hamas have agreed a Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal after 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 told the BBC earlier that it had approved a draft from Qatari, American and Egyptian mediators.

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

Details of the three-phase plan have not been released, but it is reported 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.

Talks on the second phase – which should lead to the release of the remaining hostages, a full withdrawal of Israeli troops and “sustainable calm” – will begin in two weeks.

The third and final stage will involve the reconstruction of Gaza – something that could take years – and the return of any remaining bodies of hostages.

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

More than 46,700 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the Hamas-ruled territory’s health ministry. Most of the 2.3 million people have also been displaced, with widespread destruction and severe shortages of food, fuel, medicine and shelter due to the struggle to get aid to those in need.

Israel claims 94 of the hostages are still being held by Hamas, of whom 34 are believed to be dead. In addition, there are four Israelis who were kidnapped before the war, two of whom are dead.