WASHINGTON – After months of gridlock, the Israel-Hamas ceasefire in Gaza came together in a matter of days after a deft maneuver — or perhaps a misunderstanding — by President Donald Trump that boxed in the two adversaries.

Either way, efforts to wind down the devastating war unleashed by Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel have seen a breakthrough, and the last 48 hostages — 20 of them believed to be alive — are set to be returned under the agreement announced Wednesday.

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Major questions remain, including over governance and reconstruction of a territory that largely has been destroyed as well as whether Hamas will disarm — a key Israeli demand that the militants have not yet publicly accepted.

But it appears for now as though the fighting will pause, bec

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