Welcoming the ceasefire, he said on Saturday, "It is a meaningful step towards de-escalation reflecting the commitment of both nations to regional peace and stability."
Hamas spokesman Abdul Latif Al-Qanou said that Egyptian and Qatari mediators have been working to complete the ceasefire agreement and move forward with the second phase of negotiations
The ceasefire — just the second achieved during the war — will go into effect on Sunday, though key questions remain, including the names of the 33 hostages to be released during the six-week first phase of the ceasefire and who among them is still alive
The announcement of deal to return Hamas-held hostages in the Gaza Strip has been reached came a day after Netanyahu's office said there were last-minute snags in talks to free hostages in return for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of Palestinian prisoners
Both parties have reportedly made progress toward a ceasefire despite some remaining obstacles. Israel, Palestine, and US officials expressed cautious optimism about a potential breakthrough in the coming days
Israel and Palestinian militant group at the “closest point” yet to sealing a deal that would bring them a step closer to ending the war, says mediator Qatar
Azerbaijan and Armenia have been locked in a bitter conflict over Karabakh since Armenian separatists backed by Yerevan seized control of the mountainous province in a 1990s war that left 30,000 people dead.
