Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire and hostage-release deal on what's been declared a "day of success" by US President Joe Biden.
The deal to pause Israel's 15-month bombardment of Gaza, which has killed an estimated 46,000 people, was announced after days of intensive negotiations in Qatar.
"This deal will halt the fighting in Gaza, surge much needed-humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians and reunite the hostages with their families," Mr Biden said.
Assuming it is formally approved by Israel's cabinet, the deal will come into effect on Sunday and roll out in three phases.
The first phase would involve the implementation of a "full and complete ceasefire" for at least six weeks, while negotiations continue over a complete end to the war.
Thirty-three hostages held in Gaza — including women, children, men over 50, and the most seriously wounded — would be released in the first phase.
Hundreds of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons are also likely to be released under the deal. Palestinians in Gaza will be allowed to return to their neighbourhoods, though much of the area has been reduced to rubble.
Some technical details of the deal remain unclear. Some terms of the second and third phases of the deal would be worked out during the first phase
"During the next six weeks, Israel will negotiate the necessary arrangements to get to phase two, which is a permanent end of the war," Mr Biden said.
Mr Biden said his personnel and members of the incoming Trump administration had been "speaking as one team". Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, recently joined the negotiations alongside officials from the current administration.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong hailed the deal as a "constructive step towards peace". In a joint statement, they said Australia would keep working with the international community towards a two-state solution.
"We hope it will allow the Palestinian people the opportunity to rebuild, reform their governance, and pursue self-determination," they said.
But they said Hamas must not be involved in governing Gaza, and any future Palestinian state must not be able to threaten Israel's security.
The deal was first announced by the Qatari Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, whose country had been mediating the talks alongside the US and Egypt.
Sheikh Mohammed said the agreement relied on both sides keeping to their promises "in good faith".
War between Hamas and Israel began after the October 7, 2023 attacks, in which 1,200 Israelis were killed, and Hamas fighters took a further 250 people hostage.
