Welcome to the NewsHour. After nearly a year and a half of brutal war in Gaza that widened across the region,

a ceasefire and hostage deal was struck today between Israel and Hamas.

The deal between the warring sides was mediated by the United States, Egypt and Qatar and will start this weekend.

The Biden administration had spent money months trying to force the

parties toward a deal, but a final push in coordination with the incoming Trump team helped

get to this agreement today. Nick Schifrin is here with more. So Nick, how down to the wire was this?

Well, Jeff, a senior administration official says that the U.S. didn't know there would be a deal

until just minutes before announcing it after Hamas tried this morning to insert new objections.

But tonight, after 15 months of one of the most intense aerial campaigns in history, the deadliest ever war on Israeli soil,

and the deaths of tens of thousands of Palestinians,

there is cautious hope the ceasefire will hold.

Tonight in Gaza, a celebration.

And in Israel, relief that after 467 days of war, in just 72 hours, the guns over Gaza will go silent.

At long last, I can announce a ceasefire and a hostage deal has been reached between Israel and Hamas.

The three-phase deal begins with a six-week ceasefire.

Hamas were released 33 Israeli hostages, beginning with five female soldiers on Sunday,

and two Americans, Sagi Dekyll Khan and Keith Siegel.

Israel were released nearly a thousand Palestinian prisoners, including hundreds serving life sentences for terrorism,

a surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza. And Israeli soldiers will leave population centers, but remain

along Gaza's borders, including on the Philadelphia corridor with Egypt, allowing Palestinians

to return to their homes. Israeli President Isaac Herzog. This is the right move. This is an

important move. This is a necessary move. There is no greater moral, human, Jewish, or Israeli

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