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Israel and Hamas have agreed to stop the war for six weeks, but now the hard part begins for all sides. During the first phase of the deal, which will last for 42 days, Hamas will release 33 of the roughly 100 Israeli hostages it has held for more than 15 months,

President-elect Donald Trump's influence over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was the defining factor in reaching a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.

Michael Herzog, the Israeli envoy who largely operated behind the scenes, was praised as a “supremely efficient” ambassador admired on both sides of the aisle.

President Biden touted the deal from Washington, saying his administration and President-elect Trump’s team were “speaking as one” in the negotiations; Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hoped “details will be finalized tonight.

With a pending Gaza ceasefire and Donald Trump returning as US president, Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader must now decide whether to recognise Israel before a Palestinian state is created.

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

The deplorable humanitarian conditions in northern Gaza have caused bitter infighting within the Biden administration.

Several times during Blinken's opening remarks, two members of the audience repeatedly interjected with shouted questions about U.S. support for Israel and conditions in Gaza, and, at times, personal attacks aimed at Blinken and other State Department officials.

The Biden administration called for a final push before the president leaves office, with many seeing the Trump inauguration as an unofficial deadline.

President Joe Biden touted a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, a goal his administration has been working toward for more than a year now.