Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, have agreed to a ceasefire that would end an 11-day conflict that has killed at least 230 Palestinians and 12 Israelis.
The truce came a day after the US stepped up pressure on Israel to end its bombardment of the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, with US president Joe Biden telling Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday that he “expected a significant de-escalation today on the path to a ceasefire”.
Netanyahu initially resisted, saying he was “determined to continue this operation until its aim is met”. But after Israel’s security cabinet met on Thursday, it said it had voted unanimously in favour of a “mutual and unconditional” Gaza ceasefire.