A ceasefire deal in the Middle East could be announced today, officials have said. 

An Israeli official has told news agency Reuters a deal is possible in "hours, days or more".

Similarly, a Palestinian official told the BBC that a deal is likely and that “the detailed technical discussions took considerable time".

Any agreement will see up to 33 Israeli hostages released in exchange for the beginning of the withdrawal of IDF troops from Gaza. 

Palestinian children inspect damage to Al-Aliya Kindergarten after it was bombed by Israel in Jabalia camp north of Gaza. Image: SOPA Images Limited / Alamy

US President Joe Biden has said such a deal would work for everyone. 

"So many innocent people have been killed, so many communities have been destroyed,” he said. 

“Palestinian people deserve peace.

"The deal would free the hostages, halt the fighting, provide security to Israel, and allow us to significantly surge humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians who suffered terribly in this war that Hamas started."

A protestor demands the return of Israeli hostages. Image: PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo

President-Elect Donald Trump also confirmed that the two sides were “very close” to a deal. 

"If they don't get it done, there's going to be a lot of trouble out there, a lot of trouble, like they have never seen before,” he told Newsmax. 

"And they will get it done and I understand there's been a handshake and they're getting it finished and maybe by the end of the week. 

“But it has to take place, it has to take place."

Since Hamas’ attack on southern Israel on October 7th, 2023, the organisation estimates that around 46,000 people in Gaza have died at the hands of the Israeli Defence Forces.

Main image: Gaza city. Picture by: The Associated Press.