The post US official says Biden prioritized Israel’s ‘defanging’ of Hezbollah to push Hamas toward deal appeared first on The Times of Israel.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken had said the U.S. wanted a ceasefire deal in Gaza and all remaining captives released before Donald Trump takes office on Jan. 20.

Mediators say Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire deal to pause the devastating 15-month war and flood humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.

Months of tedious talks over a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza – negotiations that required officials from an outgoing and incoming presidential administration to put aside their fundamental differences – culminated in an intense late-night push for an agreement that finally came to fruition on Wednesday.

The United States, Egypt and Qatar have mediated the long-running efforts to halt the fighting in the ravaged territory.

The Israeli government on Friday approved a cease-fire deal with Hamas that will see the release of all hostages held by the Palestinian group after more than seven hours of debate, local media reported.

Significant progress was made on a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal once the administrations of Joe Biden and Donald Trump began working hand in hand to make the case for urgency, outgoing U.S.

Israel has said that its cabinet will not meet to approve the ceasefire and hostage release deal with Hamas, claiming the militant group was creating a "last-minute crisis." Fmr. Spokesperson for the U.