In a rare move hours after the cease-fire took effect, one senior Hamas official said the group wants to engage the new Trump administration.

For Austin, the past 15 months have been filled with protests, grief, and rising Islamaphobia and antisemitism. Jewish, Muslim Austinites reflect, hope

The group is set to release the more than 90 hostages over the coming weeks as part of the ceasefire deal with Israel.

The Israeli government has approved a ceasefire and hostage deal with Hamas, leading to a possible end to 15 months of a devastating war in Gaza that spread to other parts of the Middle East.

For the Islamist militant group, armed struggle now looks like a dead end. Its future in Gaza depends on the civilian politburo.

Hamas remained in power through four previous wars with Israel. With help from Iran it steadily enhanced its capabilities, extended the range of its rockets and built deeper and longer tunnels to hide from Israeli airstrikes. By Oct. 7, 2023, it had an army of tens of thousands in organized battalions.

A cease-fire announced Wednesday will end the 15-month war between Hamas and Israel and includes the eventual release of all hostages held by Hams and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

The deal, mediated by the United States, offered a glimmer of hope in a conflict that has taken an immense human toll.