Months of tedious talks over a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza – negotiations that required officials from an outgoing and incoming presidential administration to put aside their fundamental differences – culminated in an intense late-night push for an agreement that finally came to fruition on Wednesday.

At least two American hostages are expected to be freed from Hamas in the first phase of the newly announced cease-fire deal between the terror group and Israel. Sagui Dekel-Chen, 36, and Keith Siegel,