Brett McGurk is a CNN global affairs analyst who served in senior national security positions under Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump and Joe Biden.

The news last night from Egypt brings hope for the first time in months to suffering hostage families, Israelis with loved ones on the front lines, and Gazans trapped in a tragic war that Hamas started. The deal requires the release of all remaining hostages living and remains held by Hamas and then a long process that aims to see Gaza recover with Hamas no longer in control of the Strip or its Palestinian population.

So, what should we make of this deal, and expect to see over the coming days?

Art of a deal

Diplomacy is a lonely task. Former Sen. George Mitchell after negotiating the Good Friday Accords to end the Northern Ireland conflict described “700 days of failure and one day of success.” In my experience, far more so when the mission involves negotiations to free hostages and end a regional war that engulfed the Middle East after Hamas’s invasion of Israel two long years ago this week.

That is one reason the agreement reached last night on Gaza is a massive and unequivocal triumph.

This year began with some hope following agreement for a three-phase deal to release hostages and ultimately end the war. I helped negotiate that deal, with support from the incoming Trump administration, a rare example of bipartisan cooperation.