As we wait to learn more about the ceasefire deal agreed between Israel and Hamas, we're now hearing from the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The prime minister's office says Hamas "backed down" because of Netanyahu's "firm stance" against last-minute demands on the deployment of forces on the Philadelphi Corridor between Gaza and Egypt.

Netanyahu's office, however, notes there are "still several unresolved clauses" of the agreement that need to be addressed - but he hopes details will be finalised in the coming hours.

We've just received these pictures from Tel Aviv, where protesters are demanding the return of hostages kidnapped during the 7 October attack by Hamas:

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

94 hostages still held in Gaza - 34 of them believed to be deadpublished at 17:52 Greenwich Mean Time

17:52 GMT

By Emma Pengelly, Jamie Ryan, Alex Murray

According to BBC Verify research, 94 of the 251 hostages taken on 7 October 2023 are still held in Gaza - 60 are assumed to be living and 34 dead.

There are another four hostages who were taken in 2014 and 2015, two of whom are believed to be dead.

The figure of 34 hostages taken on 7 October and now thought dead is based on announcements by the IDF after investigations, statements from kibbutzim and organisations representing the families.

This would leave a figure of 60 hostages still alive, but since 7 October Hamas has claimed a higher death toll of hostages in Gaza. We are unable to verify this.

Some 109 hostages have been released through negotiations, either on humanitarian grounds or during the temporary ceasefire from 24 - 30 November 2023.

Eight hostages have been rescued by the IDF.

The remains of 40 hostages have been recovered from Gaza by the IDF. This includes three hostages accidentally killed by the IDF on 15 December 2023.

As news of the ceasefire emerges, Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are celebrating the deal on the streets.

Here are some of the images we’ve received from Deir Al-Balah in central Gaza:

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Here's more reaction from US President-elect Donald Trump, who says the "epic ceasefire agreement could have only happened as a result of our historic victory in November".

He says his election to the White House signalled to the world that his administration "would seek peace and negotiate deals to ensure the safety of all Americans and our allies".

The president-elect says he is "thrilled" that both American and Israeli hostages will be returning home.

Trump names his special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, saying he and the national security team will "continue to work closely with Israel and our allies to make sure Gaza never again becomes a terrorist safe haven".

Trump says his team will continue "promoting peace through strength throughout the region" and build on the "momentum" of the Abraham Accords.

"This is only the beginning of great things to come for America, and indeed, the World," he adds.

Trump's imminent presidency gave the talks a deadlinepublished at 17:43 Greenwich Mean Time

17:43 GMT

Tom Bateman
State Department correspondent, Washington DC

I think the key point here has been that the transition to the Trump presidency and the looming deadline of his inauguration - 20 January - has in effect given a meaningful deadline on these talks.

Both sides knew that the current terms on offer, and the fact that they're guaranteed by the United States, you get much more uncertainty after that date.

There was no guarantee that with a new administration you would get the same guarantees made by the Biden administration into this process - there may be changed priorities.

A new administration will have to take this on in five days' time - but in the meantime the Biden administration will be dealing with the implementation of that agreement.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog's office says the president has met the president of the International Red Cross, Mirjana Spoljaric, amid preparations for a hostage transfer.

In a statement released a few moments ago, the president's office says that during the meeting Herzog emphasised the "utmost importance and sensitivity of this mission".

The Red Cross team, the statement adds, has briefed the president on preparations for the transfer of hostages and the "various challenges they face".

Rushdi Abualouf
Gaza correspondent

This deal will allow hundreds of thousands of displaced people in Gaza city and southern Gaza to go back to their homes, villages, and towns.

A very important issue for Palestinians is that part of the deal involves 600 trucks of aid [every day of the ceasefire] and medical supplies, including tents, being allowed into Gaza from the Rafah crossing.

We understand this will also include 50 fuel lorries to operate what is remaining of hospitals, fix the power stations, repair sewage and water system, and start the process of finding solutions for all the problems people have been suffering for over a year.

CBS News, the BBC's US news partner, reports that a last-minute snag over the Philadelphi Corridor - a strategically important strip of land along Gaza's southern border with Egypt - arose in the last hour but this was resolved.

Tom Bateman
State Department correspondent, Washington DC

A source briefed on the talks tells the BBC: "Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal reached following Qatari PM’s meeting with Hamas negotiators and separately Israeli negotiators in his office."

US President-elect Donald Trump has just written on Truth Social: "WE HAVE A DEAL FOR THE HOSTAGES IN THE MIDDLE EAST. THEY WILL BE RELEASED SHORTLY. THANK YOU!"

Israel and Hamas have agreed a ceasefire deal, a source briefed on the talks tells CBS News, the BBC's US news partner.

The source says it follows the Qatari PM’s meeting with Hamas negotiators and separately Israeli negotiators in his office.

It is hoped that a ceasefire deal will mean an agreement to stop the war in Gaza.

It is also expected to see an exchange of hostages and prisoners.

Hamas seized 251 hostages when it attacked Israel in October 2023. It is still holding 94 captive, although Israel believes that only 60 are still alive.

Israel is expected to release about 1,000 Palestinian prisoners, some jailed for years, in return for the hostages.

• Read more: What we know about the Gaza ceasefire deal

A Hamas official has told the BBC it has told Qatari and Egyptian mediators that Hamas has approved the ceasefire agreement.

The official spoke to the BBC as Israeli media reported Hamas had introduced last-minute demands to the ceasefire deal - moments before Qatar was due to hold a news conference on the state of the talks.

The reports in Israeli media said it had issued fresh demands about the Philadelphi Corridor - a strategically important strip of land along Gaza's southern border with Egypt.

Months of negotiations are now coming to a head, leading to a flurry of briefings from all sides. Stay with us as we unpick it all.

While we wait for the press conference in Doha to begin, we've just heard Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has cut short his diplomatic visit to Italy following progress in talks to secure a Gaza ceasefire deal.

In a statement, the foreign ministry says Saar will return to Israel tonight to take part in the expected security cabinet and government votes on a deal.

He had been scheduled to travel to Hungary to attend further diplomatic talks tomorrow.

As is often the case with news conferences, the Qatari update expected to have begun at 19:00 local time (16:00 GMT) has been delayed.

We've not been told by how long the timings have slipped. Stay with us.

The Qatari news conference is set to begin in the next few minutes.

We're expecting the update to come from Majed al Ansari, the Qatari prime minister's spokesman.

There have been efforts to agree a ceasefire in Gaza since a temporary truce between Israel and Hamas in November 2023 broke down on the seventh day.

• 31 May 2024 - US President Joe Biden outlines an Israeli draft ceasefire deal
• 9 November - After months of negotiations, talks stall as Qatar suspends its efforts as mediator. It says Israel and Hamas need to shift their positions before talks can resume
• 20 November - US blocks a separate Gaza ceasefire draft resolution at the UN Security Council, saying it "abandoned" the necessity for there to be "a linkage between a ceasefire and the release of hostages"
• 27 November - Israel agrees a ceasefire with Lebanon to end its war with the armed group Hezbollah, a key ally of Hamas. The ceasefire reignites hope for a deal in Gaza
• 28 November - US President Joe Biden says the US will renew its efforts to reach a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas
• 17 December - After months of deadlock, a senior Palestinian official says the indirect talks are in a "decisive and final phase" while Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz says an agreement is closer than ever. Days later, the BBC hears the deal is 90% there
• 4 January - Indirect ceasefire talks resume in Qatar
• 13 January - The BBC reports that Israel and Hamas are on the brink of a ceasefire agreement

We're hearing conflicting reports about the timing of the news conference in Doha.

Initially, reports from Qatar suggested it was imminent. We're now hearing the update could be held at 19:00 local time (16:00 GMT), or even later.

There are also reports it may be the Qatari prime minister's spokesman delivering the update, rather than the PM himself.

It's a fast-moving situation in Doha as months of negotiations come to a head - we'll have all the latest on this page.

Blinken gave details on how Gaza could be governed post-ceasefirepublished at 15:42 Greenwich Mean Time

15:42 GMT

Tom Bateman
State Department correspondent

Last night, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken echoed Joe Biden’s hopes that a ceasefire deal was imminent. Beyond that, this was a significant speech that contained new details.

He laid out for the first time the plan the administration wants to hand over to President Trump for post-war Gaza. The bottom line here is it didn’t envisage immediate full control of Gaza by the Palestinian Authority (PA) – the entity created by the Oslo Accords that has limited governance in parts of the occupied West Bank.

Critically, Gaza’s security forces would be comprised of personnel from other countries - most likely Arab states although he didn’t name them - alongside “vetted” Palestinian forces.

Likewise civil government meant to replace Hamas – rebuilding, running schools, hospitals, public funds, water etc – would be a mix of some PA, some local leaders, “international partners” and the UN.

This is a long-way from Palestinian self governance but is pitched by the Americans as an “interim” step towards “time-bound” PA control and ultimately a path to a so-called two state solution – an independent Palestinian state.

In reality the plan is a compromise designed to appease the Israeli leadership which opposes full PA control of Gaza, while also bringing in Arab support and trying to prevent long-term Israeli occupation of Gaza on the ground.

But there’s also the reality in this region that the temporarily imposed fix often ends up becoming the permanently entrenched problem.