House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries reacted to the news of a deal between Israel and Hamas for a ceasefire and hostage release operation. This comes after 15 months of violent fighting in the Gaza Strip.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Negotiators reached a phased ceasefire deal on Wednesday to end the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, the U.S. and Qatar said, after 15 months of bloodshed that has inflamed the Middle East.

The ceasefire agreement, reached with Hamas, provides for the swap of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners and a surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

The Israeli government ratified the Gaza ceasefire and hostage return deal, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said, after a cabinet meeting that lasted more than six hours and ended in the early hours of Saturday.

Israel’s Cabinet approved a deal early Saturday for a ceasefire in Gaza that would release dozens of hostages held there and pause the 15-month war with Hamas, bringing the sides a step closer to ending their deadliest and most destructive fighting ever.

After 15 months of fighting Israel and Hamas have agreed to a cease-fire deal. The deal will begin with an exchange of hostages held in Gaza for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, according to officials.