Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Israel and Hamas on Wednesday reached a ceasefire and hostage release agreement following high-level negotiations in Doha, mediated by the Qatari prime minister, according to sources familiar with the talks.

 The deal is expected to take effect within the next two to three days.

“A Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal (was) reached following (the) Qatari PM's meeting with Hamas negotiators and separately Israeli negotiators in his office,” an anonymous source briefed on the discussions told AFP.

According to Al Jazeera, the first phase of the ceasefire will last 42 days, beginning with a three-day preparatory period. During this time, 600 aid trucks will be permitted into Gaza daily as part of a humanitarian protocol. The first stage will officially begin on Sunday, with the release of female Israeli captives and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing. 

Lebanese outlet Al Mayadeen reported that during the first phase, 33 Israeli captives will be released, while Hamas has secured Israel's agreement to release 1,000 Palestinian prisoners, including women, children, and individuals detained after October 7. Additionally, all Palestinians who were rearrested after the 2011 Shalit prisoner exchange deal will be freed.

“Israel has agreed to open the Rafah crossing seven days after the initial phase and allow injured Gaza residents to seek medical treatment abroad,” Al Mayadeen reported. 

Qatar, Egypt, and the United States are expected to oversee and guarantee the agreement's implementation.

The deal reportedly has broad support within Israel's security and political cabinet. Channel 12 in Israel quoted a US-elected President Donald Trump representative saying, “This agreement proves that peace through strength prevails.”

The ceasefire negotiations come after months of diplomatic efforts led by Qatar, with support from the United States and Egypt, to end a 15-month-long conflict between Israel and Hamas that has claimed over 46,500 lives and left more than 109,000 injured.