Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire deal, mediators announced Wednesday, pausing a devastating 15-month war in the Gaza Strip and raising the possibility of winding down the the deadliest and most destructive fighting between the bitter enemies.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said on Wednesday that a deal had been reached to release hostages held in Gaza. His comments, made on his Truth Social platform, came after an official said that Israel and Hamas had reached a ceasefire deal in the Gaza war.

Hamas is expected to release 33 hostages during the first phase of an emerging ceasefire agreement being finalized by negotiators in Doha, two Israeli officials said.

A Gaza deal between Israel and Hamas, still not officially announced yet on Wednesday, outlines a six-week initial ceasefire phase and includes the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces and release of hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian detainees held by Israel,

Israel and Hamas have been holding indirect talks for more than a year aimed at ending the war in Gaza and returning the hostages to Israel.

Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire deal, mediators announced on Wednesday, pausing a devastating 15-month war in the Gaza Strip and raising the possibility of winding down the the deadliest and most destructive fighting between the bitter enemies.

Hamas has accepted a draft agreement for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of dozens of hostages, two officials involved in the talks said Tuesday. Mediators from the United States and Qatar said Israel and the Palestinian militant group were at the closest point yet to sealing a deal to bring them a step closer to ending 15 months of war.