Washington | Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire deal to pause the devastating war in the Gaza Strip, officials announced on Wednesday (Thursday AEDT), raising the possibility of winding down the deadliest and most destructive fighting between the bitter enemies.

The deal promises the release of dozens of hostages held by Hamas in phases and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israel, and it will allow hundreds of thousands of people displaced in Gaza to return to what remains of their homes. It also would flood badly needed humanitarian aid into a territory ravaged by 15 months of war.