TRANSCRIPT
It was an historic announcement: the prospect of a period of peace after 15 months of deadly warfare in Gaza.
But only hours after celebrations erupted around the Middle East, there are concerns the deal is in doubt.
A Thursday morning Israeli Cabinet meeting to ratify the deal has been postponed.
The Prime Minister's office has cited concerns Hamas is seeking amendments, which Gaza's former rulers have denied.
Key Israeli politicians remain divided over the proposed deal.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir says he will resign from Benjamin Netayahu's government if the agreement is ratified.
"Therefore, with an abandoned agreement approved and implemented, we will deliver our letters of resignation to the prime minister and the Otzma Yehudit (party) will not be part of the government and we are resigning from it."
Israeli media outlets have reported the Cabinet is expected to vote to ratify the agreement on Friday, but there has been no official confirmation of the timing from the Prime Minister's office.
Egypt's Foreign Minister, Badr Abdelatty, has publicly pressed Mr Netanyahu to move quickly on the deal, which was negotiated with input from Egypt, Qatar [[cutter]] and the United States.
"This is a great achievement, thanks to the extreme efforts exerted by Egypt alongside with Qatar and the United States that's of extreme importance. We have to work hand in hand in order to start the implementation of this agreement without any delay. That's of great importance in order to secure the release of all hostages. And that's one of the main objectives and main achievements of this agreement. Alongside, of course, with stopping the daily killings and attacks on the innocent civilians in Gaza."
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says he remains optimistic the Gaza Strip ceasefire will begin on Sunday as planned, despite the last-minute negotiations.
"Yes, I am confident and I fully expect that implementation will begin, as we said, on Sunday. Look, it's not exactly surprising that in a process, in a negotiation that has been this challenging and this fraught, you may get a loose end, we are tying up that loose end as we speak."
News of the agreement has been welcomed by jubilant crowds across the Middle East, including in Baghdad and in Jordan, where Amman resident Ala Cherif prayed for an end to the war.
"I am truly very happy about the truce because the people of Gaza have suffered greatly in the past days and endured so much, and the things that happened to them haven't happened to anyone else, the deaths and martyrs. God willing the truce will continue."
In Iran's capital Tehran, the mood was similarly high, as citizens including Ms Zamanika gathered to celebrate.
"We are very happy, really from the bottom of our hearts, because the feeling that the oppressed people of Palestine have been experiencing for a year and a half (has ended), and they have not been able to sleep peacefully at night, and it is a great happiness for us that they can have peace."
Meanwhile, protesters in Tel Aviv renewed their calls for parties to sign the accord to return every Israeli hostage held in Gaza.
Gil Dickman's cousin was killed while in captivity in Gaza.
“The deal is underway. It's going to happen. Maybe it's going to take a few more days, but it's going to happen mainly because President Trump said so. And that means it's going to happen. What I worry about is the second and third phase of the deal, because the first phase, there's only 33 hostages.”
Under its terms, Israeli forces would begin to withdraw from the Gaza strip by Sunday and all Israeli hostages would be returned home.
The six-week phased ceasefire would also see the return of Palestinian prisoners who have been detained by Israel and a safe passage for humanitarian aid to Gaza.
In the hours after the truce was announced on Wednesday, Israel launched some of the most intense strikes on Gaza in months.
The Palestinian Health Ministry says at least 77 people were killed.
