Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are eager to leave miserable tent camps and return to their homes if a long-awaited ceasefire agreement halts the Israel-Hamas war.

War zones are no place for children, the most vulnerable victims of armed conflicts who are sometimes forced to fight others’ battles

Civil Defense teams, members of public rush to extinguish fire that broke out in tents of displaced people - Anadolu Ajansı

Palestinians in the central Gaza Strip expressed their hope and joy over news of a potential ceasefire deal after mediators said Israel and Hamas were at the closest point yet to sealing an agreement.

The Israeli Cabinet will convene early Friday to ratify a cease-fire and hostage exchange deal with Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip, according to Israeli media on Thursday. The Israel Broadcasting Authority KAN reported the developments on X, citing an official. The agreement, announced by Qatar on Wednesday, is set to take effect Sunday.

A strike in Bureij, a Palestinian refugee camp located in the central Gaza Strip, on Monday night killed at least three people, including two women. (AP Video Production by Wafaa Shurafa)

President Biden and President-elect Trump are each seeking to claim credit for the deal for a ceasefire in Gaza and release of Israeli hostages.

Doctor Khaled al-Saidani checks a patient at Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah city, central Gaza Strip, on Jan. 9, 2025. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Doctor Khaled al-Saidani is seen at Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah city, central Gaza Strip, on Jan. 9, 2025. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

Mediators say Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire deal to pause the devastating 15-month war in the Gaza Strip, raising the possibility of winding down the deadliest and most destructive fighting between the bitter enemies.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that a "last minute crisis" with Hamas was holding up Israeli approval of a long-awaited agreement to pause the fighting in the Gaza Strip and release dozens of hostages.

Two strikes in the central Gaza city of Deir al-Balah killed two women and their four children, who ranged in age from 1 month to 9 years old