Middle East

The Gaza ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas has gone into effect, the Israeli military says.

Just days before Anthony Albanese is due to fly to Washington, the PM has declared President Trump ‘deserves congratulations’ but has stopped short of backing his bid to win a Nobel Peace Prize. 

US forces plan a ‘civil military co-ordination centre’ in Israel to provide humanitarian, logistical and security assistance, an official said, but will not deploy to Gaza.

Around 200 US troops will help oversee the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, setting up a coordination centre to manage aid and security without entering Gaza.

Israel believes 20 hostages are still alive in Gaza, their families clinging to the hope of release.

TIMELINE: Now that the Israeli Government has officially approved Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan, a series of historic events are set to play out. Here is what we know.

THE ECONOMIST: After two years of bloodshed, Donald Trump’s high-stakes diplomacy has brought Israel and Hamas to the table in a deal that could reshape the region.

Israel erupts in relief after Donald Trump’s Gaza deal ends the war, but for many, the question now is why peace took two long years to arrive.

Federal minister Mark Butler has welcomed the Middle East ceasefire agreement, but said there was still uncertainty about the future for the region.

The Israeli cabinet has approved a Gaza peace plan, endorsing the US-brokered ceasefire and hostage release which US President Donald Trump says will happen on ‘Monday or Tuesday’.

The agreement on the initial stage of Donald Trump's 20-point framework resulted from indirect talks in Egypt.

AARON PATRICK: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly said Hamas’ removal is non-negotiable, no matter how many civilians have to die to eliminate Israel’s enemy from the Gaza Strip.

Australia has welcomed Donald Trump’s announcement that Israel and Hamas have struck the first phase of a peace deal that will lead to the release of all hostages and withdrawal of troops from Gaza.

US President Donald Trump said he plans to travel to Israel on Sunday or Monday, around the time the last 20 hostages would be released after two years in captivity.

The second day of indirect negotiations at the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh focused on the plan proposed by US President Donald Trump last week that aims to bring about an end to the war.