Israel has begun implementing a ceasefire deal in Gaza, after it reached an agreement with Hamas for the Palestinian militant group to release all the hostages it holds.

It is the first diplomatic breakthrough after months of failed attempts at stopping the two-year war, which has all but devastated Gaza, left tens of thousands dead and destabilized the Middle East. The deal came after days of negotiations between the warring sides in the Egyptian resort of Sharm El-Sheikh, building on a proposal from U.S. President Donald Trump.

A ceasefire was in effect as of Thursday, Israel’s deputy foreign minister, Sharren Haskel, said in an interview with Bloomberg TV.

The Israeli cabinet is set to meet in the next few hours to formally approve the agreement, an Israeli official said. Army troops

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