Qatar and the United States announced Wednesday a ceasefire and hostage-release deal between Israel and Hamas, adding that they hoped it would pave the way for a permanent end to the war in Gaza.After mediators said a deal had been reached,

Medical teams in Gaza have recovered the bodies of nine martyrs from the town of Khuza'a east of Khan Yunis, while operations to recover more bodies from various parts of the Gaza Strip continue since the ceasefire came into force last Sunday.

The ceasefire between Israel and the Islamist group Hamas in the Gaza Strip will take effect this Sunday, January 19, announced this Wednesday by the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar, Mohamed bin Abderrahman.

The United States, Egypt and Qatar have spent the past year trying to mediate an end to the war and secure the release of dozens of hostages captured in Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack that triggered it.

Qatar, Egypt and the United States have stepped up efforts ... the central area of Deir el-Balah and Khan Yunis in the south. "Last night was harsh and bloody," spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP. The Israeli military said it targeted Hamas fighters.

Qatar's prime minister said Wednesday that Israel and Hamas had agreed to a ceasefire in Gaza starting on Sunday and a hostage and prisoner exchange after 15 months of war. The agreement follows months of on-off negotiations brokered by Egyptian and Qatari mediators,

Qatar and the United States ... On Jan 18, AFP photos showed Palestinians in the southern city of Khan Yunis mourning four members of a family killed in another Israeli strike. A Palestinian militant spokesman said on Jan 18 that Israeli hostages ...

First phase of agreement likely to involve release of 33 Israeli hostages and up to 1,000 Palestinian prisoners

Qatar and the United States ... agency said at least five members of a family died when a strike hit the tent where they were staying in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza. Explosions were heard over Jerusalem Saturday morning after warning sirens blared and ...

Israeli troops pull back but maintain a watchful eye on the tens of thousands of Gazans who had been displaced during the 15 months of fighting.

A ceasefire in the Gaza war will begin on Sunday morning, mediator Qatar said, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vows to bring back "all the hostages" held in the

The first three hostages were released Sunday after the ceasefire officially began. A total of 33 hostages will be released in the first phase of the deal.