Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire Wednesday, a deal that will end 15 months of fighting in Gaza, senior Hamas and Qatari officials said.

WASHINGTON — More than 15 months into Israel’s devastating war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the two sides have agreed to a ceasefire deal that would pause fighting and free some Israeli hostages in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners, according to Associated Press on Wednesday.

The first phase, spanning a 42-day ceasefire, would include the exchange of 33 Israeli hostages in Gaza for Palestinians held in Israeli prisons, U.S. officials said.