Israelis and Palestinians rejoiced on Thursday after a ceasefire and hostage deal were announced under the first phase of US President Donald Trump's initiative to end the war in Gaza.
Israel and Hamas were expected to sign the agreement at midday local time at the Egyptian beach resort of Sharm el-Sheikh where they negotiated the biggest step yet taken to end two years of devastating warfare.
Palestinians and the families of Israeli hostages broke into wild celebrations after news emerged of the pact.
In Gaza, where most of the more than 2 million people have been displaced by Israeli bombing, young men applauded in the devastated streets, even as Israeli strikes continued.
'All of the Gaza strip is happy'
"Thank God for the ceasefire, the end of bloodshed and killing," Abdul Majeed Abd Rabbo said in Khan Younis in southern Gaza.

Palestinians follow the news about the ceasefire agreement in Khan Yunis on Thursday. Source: Anadolu, Getty / Abdallah F.S. Alattar
Young Palestinian men celebrated in the street in Gaza after news of the peace deal. Source: Reuters

People gather at Hostage Square in Tel Aviv to celebrate the deal. Source: Getty, DPA / Ilia Yefimovich

As part of the deal, all hostages held by Hamas are to be released. Source: Getty, DPA / Ilia Yefimovich
"Just tell him that I love him, that's it. And to see his eyes sink into mine ... It's overwhelming — this is the relief."

A person wearing a mask resembling Donald Trump, who proposed the peace plan. Source: DPA, Getty / Ilia Yefimovich
Lines of smoke rose over Shejaia, Tuffah and Zeitoun in the early hours of Thursday, though there were no immediate reports of casualties.
Just a day after the second anniversary of Hamas militants' cross-border attack that triggered Israel's devastating assault on Gaza, indirect talks in Egypt yielded an agreement on the initial stage of Trump’s 20-point framework.

Despite the agreement, Israeli airstrikes continued in Gaza. Source: Anadolu, Getty / Ali Jadallah
Still yet to be hammered out are plans to govern Gaza after the war, and the ultimate fate of Hamas, which has rejected Israel's demands that it give up its weapons.