Ceasefire deal agreed to stop fighting in Gaza

Palestinians and Israelis across the world welcome news of a ceasefire in Gaza

After 15 months of war, leaders of Israel and Hamas have reached a deal to stop fighting and release prisoners and hostages, mediators Qatar and the US say.

The war in Gaza began on 7 October 2023, when Hamas - an armed group that the UK has deemed a terrorist organisation - attacked Israel.

Since then, Israel has carried out air strikes and sent soldiers into Gaza, where many Palestinians live.

The agreement was reached in Qatar after both sides negotiated their aims with officials from the country, as well as the US and Egypt.

As long as it is approved by the Israeli government, the ceasefire will begin on Sunday.

Speaking to Newsround, BBC correspondent Jon Donnison says: "It doesn't mean an end to the decades-long conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians, but for once it is a rare bit of good news in this region."

What's been agreed in the ceasefire deal?

The deal that Israel and Hamas have reached is called a ceasefire, which is when two sides formally agree to both pause attacks and stop fighting.

The first phase of the ceasefire deal will last for six weeks and will see 33 hostages taken by Hamas returned to Israel, in exchange for the return of Palestinian prisoners.

Israeli troops have also agreed to move away from the areas of Gaza that have the most people living in. Palestinians who have fled their homes for safety will be allowed to return.

There is a severe shortage of food and other important supplies in Gaza, and the deal says that hundreds of aid lorries will be sent into the territory each day.

If these agreements go to plan, negotiations will then begin for the next stages in the deal, which are aiming to return to a "sustainable calm", full withdrawal of soldiers and rebuilding Gaza.

What have world leaders said about the ceasefire?

US President Joe Biden's team played a part in the ceasefire negotiations

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked US president Joe Biden and president-elect Donald Trump for "advancing" the ceasefire agreement, saying that the final details of the deal were still being worked on.

Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya said that the ceasefire was the result of Palestinian "resilience".

President Biden told reporters that he was "deeply satisfied this day has come", saying the deal would "halt the fighting in Gaza... and reunite the hostages with their families".

The UK's prime minister Sir Keir Starmer said "this is the long-overdue news that the Israeli and Palestinian people have desperately been waiting for".