A ceasefire and hostage deal have been agreed upon by Israel and Hamas during the Gaza conflict.

• An agreement has been reached between Israel and Hamas for a ceasefire and hostage release in the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
• The agreement was reached after separate meetings between the Qatari Prime Minister and Hamas negotiators, as well as Israeli negotiators.
• President-elect Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that a deal has been reached for the release of hostages in the Middle East.

On Wednesday, Israel and Hamas reached a significant agreement for a ceasefire and the release of prisoners, marking a major milestone in their 15-month conflict that has caused devastation and heightened tensions throughout the region.

An Israeli official has confirmed to NBC News that a long-awaited agreement has been reached following meetings between Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Hamas negotiators, as well as separate talks between the Qatari official and Israeli negotiators.

Demonstrations erupted in Israel and Gaza, filled with joy, following the announcement of the deal on Wednesday evening, local time.

Before President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration on January 20, developments are taking place, with many viewing this date as a deadline for mediation. The president-elect has stated that there will be consequences if Hamas does not release Israeli hostages before he takes office.

Trump announced on Truth Social that a deal has been reached for the release of hostages in the Middle East.

On Monday, representatives from both sides, including the heads of Israel's spy agency Mossad, received the final draft of the deal from mediators in Qatar. Hamas officials stated that significant progress had been made on key issues, with a conclusion expected "soon," as reported by Reuters.

The negotiations included envoys from both President Biden and Trump, and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the proposed deal was based on a May framework put forward by the Biden administration.

During his Senate confirmation hearing, Trump's nominee for secretary of state, Sen. Marco Rubio, acknowledged the involvement of Trump's pick for Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, in negotiations that had been ongoing since Witkoff was appointed.

""The ceasefire announced by the Senate committee chairman has been made possible by the efforts of all involved, but Steve Witkoff has been a crucial part of it from the beginning," said Rubio."

Witkoff will not officially represent the U.S. government until Trump is inaugurated on January 20.

Gideon Saar, the Israeli Foreign Minister, expressed gratitude to American officials for their efforts in achieving a ceasefire. According to Reuters, Saar stated on Monday that the deal was "much better than previously." He added, "I want to thank our American friends for the tremendous efforts they are putting in to secure a hostage deal."

Since being appointed as Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff has made multiple trips to Qatar and Israel to participate in negotiations.

Blinken emphasized the significance of Witkoff's role in the deal, stating that his involvement is "essential" to ensure Trump continues to support it after taking office.

In recent months, both Hamas and Israeli officials have generally agreed on the need for a ceasefire in exchange for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.

While Hamas insisted on a full hostage release in exchange for a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and an end to the war, Israel's leaders maintained that the Gaza campaign must continue until Hamas is dismantled.

The Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the capture of 253 hostages, was planned and led by Hamas. Since then, approximately 116 of the captives have been freed.

The Gaza Strip has been devastated by a relentless Israeli military offensive, which has resulted in the deaths of over 46,000 Palestinians, following the October attack that led to the Israel-Hamas war.

This is a developing story, please check back for updates.