CAIRO — Negotiators say they have reached a deal for a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas militant group, putting at least a pause on 15 months of devastating conflict in the Gaza Strip and clearing the way for the release of at least some of the 100 Israel and foreign hostages believed to be held by the militant group.

Israeli and Egyptian officials confirmed that a deal has been reached, and Qatar’s prime minister was expected to announce the agreement during a press conference Wednesday night. The accord is also expected to open the way for greatly expanded humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Three officials from the U.S. and one from Hamas confirmed to the Associated Press Wednesday that a deal had been reached, while a senior Israeli official said some details are still being ironed out. Hard-liners in the Israeli government have already expressed opposition to the outlines of the deal.

The deal would involve a six-week initial ceasefire phase, the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, the release of an undetermined number of hostages held by Hamas, and the release of Palestinian detainees held by Israel.

The Israeli government will vote on the Gaza ceasefire deal Thursday, a government official told the Reuters news agency.

But the political future of Gaza remains uncertain, with heated debates about who will lead the densely populated enclave’s reconstruction and governance. With Palestinian estimates that some 46,000 civilians and militants have died in the Israeli retaliatory campaign following the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas rampage through southern Israel, criticism of Hamas has intensified, both domestically and internationally.

The group, which has ruled Gaza since 2007, faces widespread allegations of corruption, mismanagement, and prioritizing its political agenda over civilian needs. Top members of its political and military wing have been killed and the recent war has further eroded its support.

The news of a deal represents a high point in a long diplomatic ordeal for the Biden administration, which has pushed Hamas and the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a ceasefire as instability spread to Lebanon, Syria, Iran and other parts of the region. President Biden was expected to make remarks on the ceasefire agreement later Wednesday.

In the end, Mr. Biden’s aides were working with representatives of the incoming Trump administration to nail down an agreement before the new administration takes power in Washington next week. Mr. Trump himself has threatened unspecified moves against Hamas if the militant group still held hostages when he is inaugurated, which may have been a factor in closing the deal.

Mr. Trump himself confirmed that a tentative deal had been reached on his Trust Social account Wednesday.

Rami Kullab, a strategic planning specialist in Khan Younis, a town just south of Gaza City and one of the largest population centers in the enclave, with a pre-war population of approximately 350,000, has watched the process with a mix of hope and apprehension.

“The past few days have been emotionally exhausting,” he said. “I’m filled with tension and intense anxiety for the safety of our people. Every day, I hope for an end to the war and the massacres.”

“Hamas’s governance has wasted billions of dollars and caused the loss of thousands of lives,” Mr. Kullab said. “The people of Gaza deserve better leadership and a brighter future.”

The hoped-for ceasefire comes as Gaza endures immense suffering.

Israeli strikes have devastated large parts of the strip, and the ground offensive that began on Oct. 8, 2024, has displaced more than 100,000 people. Aid deliveries remain limited, leaving tens of thousands without basic necessities such as food, water and electricity. Experts told the AP that famine may be underway in northern Gaza, where Israel launched a major offensive in early October, displacing tens of thousands of residents.

“The scale of destruction is unprecedented,” Mr. Kullab emphasized. “Water, electricity, and healthcare systems are barely functioning, and international intervention is urgently needed.”

Egypt and Qatar worked with the U.S. government to broker months of indirect talks that finally culminated in this latest deal. It comes after Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire in November, after more than a year of conflict linked to the war in Gaza.

• This story is based in part on wire service reports.