Israel and Hamas have agreed a historic ceasefire to end 15 months of war in Gaza, a conflict in which almost 50,000 people have been killed and which has threatened to draw in the whole of the Middle East.
President-elect Donald Trump was quick to hail the end of the war, writing on Truth Social: “We have a deal for the hostages.”.
Israel killed the top leaders of Hamas and Lebanon’s Hezbollah in assassinations which boosted its negotiating position.
Israel believes around 95 hostages are still inside Gaza, although a significant number of those captives are thought to be dead.
The new deal, hauled over the line with the help of Qatari, US and Egyptian negotiators, involves a phased ceasefire.
open image in gallery Palestinians react as they wait for news of a ceasefire deal with Israel, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip ( Reuters ).
Many longer-term questions about post-war Gaza remain, including who will rule the territory or oversee the daunting task of reconstruction. »