Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said negotiators have reached an agreement on a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip that would free Israeli hostages, ending two days of debate that had underscored the pact’s fragility.

In addition to the prisoner exchanges, Israel will release all women and children under 19 it has detained from Gaza since the October 7, 2023 attack. Israel has also agreed to gradually allow unarmed Palestinians to return to the northern part of the Gaza Strip, while facilitating a surge of humanitarian aid, with up to 600 trucks per day.

The ceasefire in Gaza will start on Sunday and last six weeks, with phases of implementation planned Qatar and the United States announced Wednesday a ceasefire and hostage-release deal between Israel and Hamas,

Rockets fired from Gaza and intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system over Israeli skies are seen from Gaza City, on May 13, 2023. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair, File) DOHA, Qatar — Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire deal to pause the devastating war in the Gaza Strip,

TEL AVIV, Israel — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday a deal to return hostages held in the Gaza Strip has been reached, after his office had said earlier there were last minute snags in finalizing a ceasefire that would pause 15 months of war.

Hamas is a Palestinian armed group and political movement in the Gaza Strip. On 7 October 2023 it attacked Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages. This triggered a massive Israeli military offensive in Gaza, which has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hamas of “reneging” on parts of the deal, under which Israel would withdraw from some areas of Gaza and obtain the return of hostages.