Negotiators reached a phased deal on Wednesday to end the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, an official briefed on the negotiations said, after 15 months of conflict that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and inflamed the Middle East.
The accord, which has not yet been formally announced, outlines a six-week initial ceasefire phase and includes the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip and release of hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, the official told Reuters.
Phase one entails the release of 33 Israeli hostages including all women, children and men over 50.
Negotiations on implementing the second phase will begin by the 16th day of phase one and it is expected to include the release of all remaining hostages, a permanent ceasefire and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
The third phase is expected to address the return of all remaining dead bodies and the start of Gaza's reconstruction supervised by Egypt, Qatar and the United Nations.
The agreement follows months of on-off negotiations conducted by Egyptian and Qatari mediators, with the backing of the United States, and comes just ahead of the Jan. 20 inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.
Hamas, Gaza's dominant Palestinian militant group, told Reuters its delegation had handed mediators its approval for the ceasefire agreement and return of hostages.
A Palestinian official, who asked not to be named, told Reuters earlier Hamas had given verbal approval to the ceasefire and hostage return proposal and was awaiting more information to give final written approval.
If successful, the planned phased ceasefire could halt fighting that has left much of Gaza in ruins, displaced most of the enclave's pre-war population of 2.3 million, and killed tens of thousands of people. The toll is still rising daily.
That in turn could defuse tensions across the wider Middle East, where the war has stoked conflict in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Iraq, and raised fears of all-out war between arch regional foes Israel and Iran.
Even if the warring sides implement the current deal, it will still require further negotiation before there is a lasting ceasefire and the release of all the hostages.
Steve Witkoff, U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy, criticized Hamas’s response to Washington’s latest ceasefire proposal, calling it “completely unacceptable” and a step backward.
Hamas said on Saturday it had officially responded to a ceasefire plan put forward by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, who represents President Donald Trump in Middle East diplomacy. The group said its reply includes a key demand: a complete end to the war.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held separate telephone discussions on Thursday with Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and senior members of Hamas’ political bureau, focusing on escalating humanitarian and security crises in Gaza and Syria.
A breakthrough US plan for a Gaza ceasefire, involving a phased hostage-prisoner exchange and humanitarian aid, has gained traction as Hamas agrees to the proposal following Israel’s acceptance.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has informed families of hostages in Gaza that Israel has accepted a new ceasefire proposal put forward by US envoy Steve Witkoff, according to Israeli media reports.
U.S. stocks pushed higher on Monday, closing in on record levels after a volatile start to the day. Despite weak manufacturing data and renewed trade tensions between the U.S. and China, investor optimism held strong, with major indexes recovering thanks to tech gains and a surge in oil prices.
Lee Jae-myung leads polls as voters choose amid political upheaval, economic fears, and Trump’s tariff hike.
The Trump administration has renewed its push for the Supreme Court to allow sweeping reductions in the federal workforce, as legal challenges from labor unions and cities—including San Francisco, Chicago, and Baltimore—move forward in lower courts.
The United States has reportedly offered Iran a nuclear proposal that would allow limited low-level uranium enrichment for an unspecified period—a marked shift from previous public U.S. positions that demanded full dismantlement of Iran’s enrichment program.
Russia and Ukraine have made progress toward peace during the second round of negotiations in Istanbul, agreeing on an expanded humanitarian exchange and moving closer to a ceasefire, Turkish FM Hakan Fidan said.
On May 28, the inauguration ceremony of Lachin International Airport was held.
Taxi drivers across France are protesting government plans to cut payments for driving patients to medical appointments. These cuts are part of a broader effort by Prime Minister François Bayrou to save €40 billion in the 2026 budget and reduce the country’s large deficit.
EU ministers have greenlit a massive €150 billion defense investment fund—dubbed the Security Action for Europe (SAFE)—as the bloc ramps up its military readiness in response to Russia’s aggression and growing uncertainty over U.S. security guarantees.
Brazil’s economy is expected to have regained momentum in the first quarter of 2025, driven by a surge in household spending and private investment, according to a Reuters poll of economists conducted from May 21–26.
As peace talks progress, voices from Yerevan, Tbilisi, and Baku reveal hopes, concerns, and expectations for a future shaped by trade, trust, and generational change in the South Caucasus.
Lee Jae-myung leads polls as voters choose amid political upheaval, economic fears, and Trump’s tariff hike.
The Trump administration has renewed its push for the Supreme Court to allow sweeping reductions in the federal workforce, as legal challenges from labor unions and cities—including San Francisco, Chicago, and Baltimore—move forward in lower courts.
The United States has reportedly offered Iran a nuclear proposal that would allow limited low-level uranium enrichment for an unspecified period—a marked shift from previous public U.S. positions that demanded full dismantlement of Iran’s enrichment program.
Russia and Ukraine have made progress toward peace during the second round of negotiations in Istanbul, agreeing on an expanded humanitarian exchange and moving closer to a ceasefire, Turkish FM Hakan Fidan said.
The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) and Canada’s Gran Tierra Energy Inc. signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the sidelines of the 30th Anniversary International Caspian Oil and Gas Exhibition held as part of Baku Energy Week.
U.S. stocks pushed higher on Monday, closing in on record levels after a volatile start to the day. Despite weak manufacturing data and renewed trade tensions between the U.S. and China, investor optimism held strong, with major indexes recovering thanks to tech gains and a surge in oil prices.
Lee Jae-myung leads polls as voters choose amid political upheaval, economic fears, and Trump’s tariff hike.
The Trump administration has renewed its push for the Supreme Court to allow sweeping reductions in the federal workforce, as legal challenges from labor unions and cities—including San Francisco, Chicago, and Baltimore—move forward in lower courts.
The United States has reportedly offered Iran a nuclear proposal that would allow limited low-level uranium enrichment for an unspecified period—a marked shift from previous public U.S. positions that demanded full dismantlement of Iran’s enrichment program.
Russia and Ukraine have made progress toward peace during the second round of negotiations in Istanbul, agreeing on an expanded humanitarian exchange and moving closer to a ceasefire, Turkish FM Hakan Fidan said.
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