Israel and Hamas reach HISTORIC ceasefire deal as hostages set to return home after 15 months in captivity

Israel and Gaza have come to an agreement over a ceasefire, several sources have confirmed.

A Hamas official has said the group’s leader Khalil Al Hayya has delivered approval of the ceasefire agreement to mediators in Qatar.

The reports in Israeli media said Hamas had issued fresh demands about the Philadelphi Corridor, a strategically important strip of land along Gaza’s southern border with Egypt.

An official briefed on the negotiations has told reporters the deal includes a six-week initial ceasefire phase, the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces, the release of hostages held by Hamas and the release of Palestinian detainees held by Israel.

Implementation of the ceasefire deal will be guaranteed by Qatar, Egypt and the US.

As part of the deal, negotiations over second phase of agreement are set to begin by 16th day of phase one and expected to include release of all remaining hostages, including Israeli male soldiers, permanent ceasefire and complete withdrawal of Israeli soldiers from Gaza.

Hamas will release all remaining hostages over six-week period with three hostages released every week and remainder before end of the period.

More to follow…