Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delayed the ceasefire with Hamas until a list of hostages is received. The ceasefire, mediated by Qatar, the US, and Egypt, is to include a hostage exchange.

Three officials acknowledged progress has been made and said the coming days would be critical for ending more than 15 months of fighting that has destabilized the Middle East.

As news of the breakthrough surfaced, stakeholders from politicians to families of hostages kidnapped at the start of the war breathed a sigh of relief that the long, violent and acrimonious