The US has said it is confident that the historic Gaza ceasefire and hostage-release deal will come into effect on Sunday, despite Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu having accused Hamas of backtracking on the deal. Mr Netanyahu had also delayed a vote by his cabinet to approve it.
America’s top diplomat, secretary of state Antony Blinken, said at a briefing on Thursday evening: “On the ceasefire, I am confident. I fully expect that implementation will begin ... on Sunday.” He added it would take “tremendous effort, political courage, compromise” to ensure that the deal endures and that it brings to an end 15 months of war.
