United States President-elect Donald Trump has announced that a ceasefire deal and hostage exchange have been reached in the West Asia. “We have a deal for the hostages in the Middle East. They will be released shortly. Thank you!,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social handle.

His announcement is coming minutes after Qatar based international media house Al Jazeera reported that Hamas, which was controlling the Gaza Strip, has approved the ceasefire and hostage exchange deal. The Arabic channel of Al Jazeera was told by the Hamas delegation which is part of the Qatar and Egypt-led negotiations that the group has let the mediators know of the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement.

Meanwhile, reports said the Israeli forces, which have been bombarding Gaza since October 2023, have continued their attacks on the Strip with killing at least 62 people over the last 24 hours, amidst heightened negotiations in the West Asia for a ceasefire.

Reportedly, the ceasefire deal will be implemented in three stages. During the first stage, 33 Israeli hostages under Hamas captive will be released. In turn, Israel will release 50 Palestinians held as prisoners in exchange for each female soldier, and 30 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the remaining civilians being held captive.

According to the ceasefire draft obtained by news agency AP, Israel will completely withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor – the strip of land between the borders of Gaza and Egypt – at the end of the first phase of the deal.

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The second stage of the deal start 16 days into the ceasefire. It will focus on negotiations to release the remaining men and soldiers in Gaza.

The third stage will address long-term arrangements, including discussions on establishing an alternative government in Gaza and plans to rebuild it.

Further details on the reported deal will focus on security. International body will be deployed policing the procedures, and Israel will allow over 1 million Palestinians in the northern Gaza Strip.

Antony Blinken, US Secretary of States, said that Washington’s “day after” plan for post-war Gaza, including deploying an international security force that would oversee policing and border crossings in the enclave.