Israel and Hamas agree historic Gaza ceasefire deal after 15 months of war - Phased truce will bring the release of dozens of hostages still held by Hamas inside the besieged territory

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Israel and Hamas agreed to pause the devastating war in the Gaza Strip, mediators announced Wednesday, raising the possibility of winding down the deadliest and most destructive fighting between the bitter enemies.

By Nidal al-Mughrabi CAIRO (Reuters) -U.S. and Arab mediators are working round-the-clock to hammer out a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, sources close to the talks said, while in the Gaza Strip medics said Israeli strikes had killed 41 Palestinians on Thursday. The mediators, at talks in Egypt and Qatar, are trying to forge a deal to pause the 14-month-old war in the Hamas-ruled