New talks on how to implement United States President Donald Trump's Gaza ceasefire plan are set to begin in Egypt tomorrow.
The White House has reportedly sent special envoy Steve Witkoff and the president's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, a former Middle East peace envoy, to Cairo for the talks on Sunday, local time.
Hamas has also sent its negotiators to Egypt and the Israeli government has indicated it will begin indirect talks on ending the war.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday night that both he and Mr Trump wanted the negotiations concluded quickly, so the Israeli hostages could be returned by the upcoming Sukkot holiday, which starts on Monday evening.
"Our intention, and the intention of our American friends, is to bind the negotiations into a matter of days," he said.
Mr Netanyahu also said Hamas would be disarmed, although the group has not agreed to that.
"It will happen either diplomatically, according to the Trump plan, or militarily, by us," he said.
Mr Trump said in a social media post that he would not allow the deal to be delayed.
"Hamas must move quickly, or all bets are off," he said.
In a later post, the president said Israel had agreed to an "initial withdrawal line" as part of any ceasefire, which appeared similar to lines shown on a map released earlier in the week when he revealed his peace plan.
Mr Trump said a ceasefire would begin immediately if Hamas agreed.
The Israeli military says it has shifted from offensive to defensive operations in Gaza, although civilians and aid workers say Israeli strikes continued well into Saturday morning, after Mr Trump told Israel to stop its bombing.
In Gaza, civilians were relieved and hopeful this ceasefire might actually happen.
"I am overjoyed about the ceasefire and hope it endures. We cherish freedom and life. People simply want to live," Tamer Abad said in the city of Deir al-Balah, where many displaced Palestinians are sheltering.
"There were no aeroplanes last night. We hope it is sustainable and we live in peace."
"We hope that each of us can return to our homes and cities. The thought of this is overwhelming and fills us with joy," Amer el Kilani said.
"We wish the world would see us as we truly are, free from bias. Our people long for freedom and independence.
"The genocide carried out against the Palestinians is unparalleled in modern history."
Others thanked Hamas for accepting the deal, which Mr Trump had proposed on Monday, US time.
"We are happy about the ceasefire. Hamas was responsive in a great way. We agree with everyone who hopes that destruction and blood will stop," Ahmad el Madhoun said.
"We want to return to our homes, but sadly, they no longer exist.
"While one major challenge is behind us, an even greater one lies ahead."
The war began after Hamas militants led an attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people, by Israeli tallies, and taking about 250 hostages.
More than 66,000 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, have been killed by an Israeli response that a UN commission of inquiry recently concluded was a genocide.
Israelis demanding Netanyahu strike deal
In Tel Aviv, tens of thousands of Israelis took to the streets for the weekly rally in support of captives still held in Gaza.
There are 48 hostages in the strip, 20 of whom are believed to be alive.
Among those in Hostage Square was Herut Nimrodi, the mother of Israeli soldier Tamir Nimrodi.
He was taken hostage on October 7, 2023, and the family has had no proof of life or news of his wellbeing for two years.
"He's the only Israeli with no indication of what happened to him," Ms Nimrodi told the ABC.
"Everybody knows or they get a life sign or they declared dead, but Tamir is the only one with no information.
"That is why we are so anxious now to know."
She did not believe extreme voices in the Netanyahu coalition government could scuttle the deal.
Already, far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir have criticised the proposal as a grave error, with Mr Ben-Gvir threatening to quit the coalition if it is accepted.
He previously quit in January, when the last ceasefire was agreed to, but was welcomed back into the fold in March when Israel resumed its bombardment of Gaza.
"There are extremists, but they're not powerful enough to disturb or to get this deal to collapse," Ms Nimrodi said.
"As long as Trump is behind this deal and most of the countries support it, I don't think that somebody can, within — that our government can ruin this moment for us."
Others in Hostage Square remained anxious for how negotiations could progress.
"I think the government itself stands on a very unstable base, and ending the war would be the end of this government, so they will not agree to any deal," Urit Gordon, who was attending the rally with her family, said.
"I'm struggling for hope."
Another at the rally, Nava Lewis, said Hamas could be the party to undermine a deal.
"We're worried on both sides, but we want the war also to end, too many people are dying," she said.
"Hamas has got to be taken out — I mean, they can't stay there, they've done too much pain.
"October 7, they would do it again if they could, so it's a bit of a mixed feeling."
Global support for deal
The developments were widely welcomed around the world in the hope that the war, which began with the Hamas attacks in Israel on October 7, 2023, could be ended close to its second anniversary.
"Australia welcomes progress on President Trump's plan to bring peace to Gaza," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese wrote on the social media platform X.
"Together with our partners, Australia will continue to support efforts to end the war and work towards a just and sustainable two-state solution."
Aid groups were hopeful the deal would allow them to bring in huge amounts of food, medicine and shelter items and start rebuilding infrastructure.
"[There is] a welcome and rare momentum to reach a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and pave the way for a long-term solution to end the decades-long conflict," Philippe Lazzarrini, the commissioner-general of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), the main UN agency for Palestinians, said.
"[It is] a rare window of hope to allow the UN, including UNRWA, to address famine and suffering of over 2 million people with unspeakable needs."
President Trump thanked specific countries for their work in convincing Hamas to accept the deal, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and Türkiye.
"As it has done so many times in the past, Hamas has shown it is ready for peace," Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said.
"Thereby, a window of opportunity has opened for permanent peace in our region. It is very important in this respect for Israel to stop its attacks immediately.
"The sprouts of hope for peace that have blossomed should not be allowed to wither."
