Image source, Reuters

Right before Biden started speaking, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani was delivering a news conference about the ceasefire deal from Doha. Here's what he told reporters:

• 'Permanent ceasefire': The PM said Israel and Hamas agreed to exchange prisoners and hostages, as well as a prolonged truce for "a permanent ceasefire" between them. The ceasefire is due to begin on19 January

• Humanitarian aid: Qatar also announced an agreement for the delivery of humanitarian aid to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip
• Hostage release: Thirty-three Israeli hostages would be released in the first phase of the deal, the PM added
• Confidence in deal: Asked how much confidence he has that the deal will progress beyond phase one, he said negotiators have faith, but it depends on the parties involved. "We expect from the parties to adhere to the agreement", he added

• Hostages' release: Hostages will soon return to their families, US President Joe Biden said during a speech at the White House, after Hamas and Israel agreed to a ceasefire deal to end fighting in Gaza
• Three phases: Biden said 15 months of suffering will stop under the agreement, which is structured in three phases. The first phase will last six weeks and includes a "full and complete ceasefire", the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the release of hostages held by Hamas
• End to war: Phase two involves negotiating "a permanent end of the war", he added. If negotiations last longer than six weeks, the ceasefire will continue, Biden said

• Rebuilding Gaza: In phase three, a reconstruction plan for Gaza will begin, humanitarian aid will increase and displaced Palestinians will be able to return to neighbourhoods in all areas of Gaza. The final remains of hostages will also return to their families, he said
• 'Not been easy': The US leader said the road to the agreement "has not been easy", and described it as one of the toughest negotiations he has experienced
• One team: Biden added that he and President-elect Donald Trump's team spoke as "one team" in their efforts to get the deal over the line

Biden says he and President-elect Donald Trump's team spoke as "one team" in their attempts to get the ceasefire deal over the line.

But just as the news conference ends and Biden walks away, he is asked who should take credit for the deal - him or Trump.

Biden turns back, and says: "Is that a joke?"

And with that, that's the end of the news conference.

Adding to what brought about the deal, Biden says after 15 months of war Hamas's senior leaders are dead, thousands of its fighters are also dead, and now it's operationally weakened, it had agreed to this deal.

Biden say he's "deeply satisfied" this day has come, both for the sake of people in Israel with loved ones still being held captive, and those in Gaza who've suffered "unimaginable devastation".

He says too many innocent people have died. With this deal the Palestinians can rebuild, without Hamas, Biden adds.

Biden says now in phase three, final remains of hostages will return to their families and a reconstruction plan for Gaza will begin.

He says the road to this deal "has not been easy", and he calls it one of the toughest negotiations he has experienced.

Iran is weaker than it has been in decades, he adds, and says Hezbollah - the Lebanese armed group backed by Iran in Lebanon - is "badly degraded".

Biden says during phase one of the ceasefire deal Palestinians can return home to their neighbourhoods and humanitarian assistance in the Gaza Strip will increase.

He says Israel and Hamas will negotiate the necessary arrangements in phase two for what would be the permanent end to the war.

If negotiations take longer than six weeks, the ceasefire will continue, he adds.

Biden says now it's a very good afternoon, as he confirms a ceasefire deal has been reached after 15 months of conflict.

"Soon the hostages will return home to their families," he says.

The deal involves a full and complete ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the release of all the hostages held by Hamas.

Israel will release Palestinian prisoners in return, he adds.

US President Joe Biden is speaking now, after he confirmed Israel and Hamas reached an agreement on a ceasefire deal.

We'll bring you live updates here - stay with us, and watch live at the top of the page.

The Qatari PM is asked by CNN about how much confidence he has the deal will progress beyond phase one.

He says they have faith and it all depends on the parties on the agreement.

Pressed on what mechanisms are in place to ensure both sides adhere to the deal, he says three countries will monitor the implementation of the agreement.

"We expect from the parties to adhere to the agreement," he says, but he recognises that these types of deals are complex.

Back in Doha, Qatari Prime Minister Al Thani is taking questions from the media - with the first on why the deal has been reached now, and if it was pressure from incoming US President Donald Trump that got it over the line.

Al Thani says Qatar has seen a momentum that started to build in the recent months.

He says what they have seen from the US in last few days is collaboration transcending both administrations, which he says was a clear commitment to reach a deal.

More now from President Biden's statement.

He says the ceasefire is welcome news, and pays tribute to "all the families whose loved ones were killed in Hamas’s October 7th attack, and the many innocent people killed in the war that followed".

Biden adds that it "long past time for the fighting to end and the work of building peace and security to begin".

He says he's thinking of the American families whom "have living hostages in Gaza and four awaiting return of remains after what has been the most horrible ordeal imaginable".

"Under this deal, we are determined to bring all of them home. I will speak more about this soon. For now, I am thrilled that those who have been held hostage are being reunited with their families," he says.

We've just had this statement from US President Joe Biden, who confirms Egypt and Qatar, Israel and Hamas have reached a ceasefire and hostage deal.

He says the deal will "halt the fighting in Gaza, surge much needed-humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians, and reunite the hostages with their families after more than 15 months in captivity".

"I laid out the precise contours of this plan on May 31, 2024, after which it was endorsed unanimously by the UN Security Council.

"It is the result not only of the extreme pressure that Hamas has been under and the changed regional equation after a ceasefire in Lebanon and weakening of Iran — but also of dogged and painstaking American diplomacy. My diplomacy never ceased in their efforts to get this done," Biden says.

"Hopefully this will be the last page," in the war, the Qatari PM says.

Qatar will continue its joint efforts with Egypt and the US to ensure all sides follow through with their commitments, the PM now says.

Al Thani now says the deal will take effect on Sunday 19 January, with the exact timings to be determined.

Qatar's PM has confirmed that Israel and Hamas have reached a ceasefire and hostage deal for Gaza.

We're hearing now from Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.

You can follow along the briefing by clicking Watch Live at the top of the page, and we'll have key lines here.

Nomia Iqbal
North America correspondent

I’m at the Capitol for the confirmation hearing of Senator Marco Rubio. He is on course to become America’s top diplomat when Donald Trump takes office.

The hearing was interrupted to bring breaking news of the ceasefire. But outside the hearing room Florida Senator Republican Rick Scott expressed some scepticism to us.

"Look, we all would love for the Israeli Gaza conflict to end," he said. "Unfortunately we’re going to have to see what happens.

"Are all the hostages going to get out? Will Hamas stop trying to destroy Israel? Only time will tell."

Texas Senator Republican John Cornyn - another member of the Foreign Relations Committee - said the "ceasefire was good news", but said he didn’t want to say anymore yet.

Lucy Manning
Special correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

We were with Sharone Lifschitz in east London as the news of a deal came through. Her dad, 84-year-old Oded, is still being held hostage. Her mum Yocheved was released in October 2023.

Sharone was tearful but realistic as she is aware that, although the next few weeks will be a time of joy for some families, other families are going to discover that their relatives are no longer alive.

"It feels like a bit of sanity," she says, adding: "I know that the chances for my dad are very slim.

"He’s an elderly man, but miracles do happen. My mum did come back, and one way or another, we will know. We will know if he's still with us, if we can look after him. We will know… my father didn’t deserve this."

She adds: "There are more graves to come and traumatised people to come back but we will look after them and make them see light again...may this be the start of something better.

"It will be amazing to see the mothers hugging their children and the children hugging their fathers and we will know who we are grieving for."

The EU's Commissioner for the Mediterranean has welcomed the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, saying it will bring "much-needed relief to those affected by the devastating conflict".

In a post on X, Dubravka Suica said the bloc "remains committed to supporting all efforts towards a long-lasting peace and recovery".