Israel and Hamas agree to Gaza ceasefire deal

ISRAEL and Hamas have agreed to a pause in their devastating two-year war and the release of the remaining hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Under the plan, Hamas will release all 20 living hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, while the Israeli military will begin withdrawing from Gaza.

Uncertainty remains about some of the thornier aspects of US President Donald Trump’s proposed plan to pause fighting, such as whether and how Hamas will disarm, and who will govern Gaza.

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the UN can move now to scale up delivery of food, water, medical and shelter supplies.

But the UN chief said “to turn this ceasefire into real progress, we need more than the silencing of the guns.”

Guterres called for safe access for humanitarian workers, the removal of red tape and other impediments, the rebuilding of Gaza’s infrastructure and funding.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi met with US Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, in Cairo, where they arrived from Sharm el Sheikh where a ceasefire deal was brokered.