Regional coordination supports President Donald Trump's Gaza peace plan, but analysts caution that Hamas' continued existence could reignite conflict.

Israel’s Cabinet early Friday approved President Donald Trump’s plan for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of all the remaining hostages held by Hamas, a key step toward ending the war.

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — World leaders on Thursday expressed hope for peace and urged Israel and Hamas to fulfill their commitments in the hours after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the parties had agreed to the “first phase” of a deal signaling a major breakthrough in the two-year war in Gaza.

Hamas-Israel deal live updates: Ceasefire agreement goes into effect in Gaza, IDF says CEASEFIRE DEAL: A ceasefire in Gaza went into effect at 12 p.m. local time (5 a.m. ET), the Israeli military said, after its government approved the first phase of a deal to bring the war to an end.

Thousands of Palestinians began returning to their homes across Gaza on Saturday amid a U.S.-brokered ceasefire.

Last month, President Donald Trump proposed a 20-point plan for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip ahead of this week's negotiations in Egypt.

Hamas has said it has given Israel a list of Palestinian prisoners it wants to be released in return for the freeing of hostages in Gaza. Tahir Al-Nono, the group’s political media advisor, said that “a spirit of optimism is prevailing” surrounding the ongoing negotiations for a peace deal that continue today in Sharm El-Sheik, Egypt.

Israel’s Cabinet has approved President Donald Trump’s plan for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of all the remaining hostages held by Hamas, a key step toward ending a ruinous two-year war that has destabilized the Middle East.

Aid groups say they are cautiously optimistic that an Israel-Hamas ceasefire will result in open borders to flood aid into Gaza.

The U.S. is preparing to establish a center in Israel that will monitor the cease-fire and oversee the distribution of humanitarian aid.