Israeli lawmakers on Wednesday advanced two bills paving the way for West Bank annexation, leading to condemnation Thursday from US Vice President JD Vance, who was in Israel at the time and who echoed Trump's comments.

He expressed optimism for a durable end to the two-year Gaza war as he met Israeli, US and other Western forces monitoring the ceasefire from inside a vast converted warehouse in southern Israel.

Rubio, who was touring a US-led multinational centre in Israel aimed at coordinating a ceasefire in Gaza, said that a sustained end to the war would encourage more countries to join the so-called Abraham Accords, under which a number of Arab countries normalised ties with Israel in 2020.

Jakarta and Johannesburg share a long history of joint struggle against injustice, the leaders said, asserting that even stronger cooperation is needed to navigate today’s uncertain geopolitical and geoeconomic landscape. 

Gaza mediators - the United States, Egypt and Qatar - stepped up their efforts this week to stabilise the early stages of the truce between Israel and Hamas and to push forward US President Donald Trump's 20-point ceasefire plan.

The dozens of strikes Israel carried out on Hamas positions in southern Gaza Sunday came after it accused the militant group of targeting its troops in "a blatant violation" of the nine-day-old truce.

"Yeah, it is," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One when asked if the ceasefire was still in place. He also suggested that Hamas leadership was not involved in any alleged breaches and instead blamed "some rebels within."

Netanyahu's government and Hamas have been trading blame over violations of the United States-mediated ceasefire for days.

King Salman's Gate, which includes several high-rises next to Islam's holiest site, is an "integrated mixed-use destination" blending Mecca's "rich architectural heritage with world-class modern living", the official Saudi Press Agency said on Wednesday. 

Analysts note that President Prabowo Subianto has increased his presence in the Middle East by attending high-level meetings pertaining to the Gaza ceasefire, including one in Egypt that saw the signing of a United States-brokered declaration.

The crossing remained shut on Wednesday despite reports that it could reopen to aid convoys, as Israel insisted Hamas hand over the remains of the last deceased hostages it holds.

The Israeli military said the remains of four more hostages held in Gaza had been brought into Israel, a day after Hamas handed over the bodies of four other captives and released the last 20 surviving hostages.

There were celebrations in the streets of the capital after the commander of the CAPSAT military unit, which joined the demonstrators at the weekend, announced that it was in charge. 

A rumored trip to Israel and a “hot mic” exchange with United States President Donald Trump over a possible business deal were among highlights of President Prabowo Subianto’s appearance in the Gaza peace summit in Egypt.

Trump and Prabowo, who were also seen on video footage, appeared to be unaware that a live microphone was recording their conversation.

The 79-year-old hailed a "historic dawn" for the Middle East and declared the end of a "painful nightmare" with the Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal he helped broker.

As part of Trump's plan to end the Gaza war, Hamas on Monday freed the last 20 surviving hostages it held after two years of captivity in Gaza. In exchange, Israel released 1,968 mostly Palestinian prisoners held in its jails.

Trump's lightning visit to Israel and Egypt aims to celebrate his role in brokering last week's ceasefire and hostage release deal -- but comes at a precarious time as Israel and Hamas negotiate what comes next.

Speaking to reporters on Air Force One at the start of the "very special" visit, Trump brushed off concerns about the ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas.

The meeting will aim "to end the war in the Gaza Strip, enhance efforts to achieve peace and stability in the Middle East, and usher in a new era of regional security and stability", the Egyptian presidency said.

For the community of 130 families, the worst issue is the constant need to stand guard to avoid settlers cutting power and irrigation pipes, or bringing their own herds to graze near people's houses.

After two years of brutal war, the families of Israel's remaining hostages in the territory were also hoping the truce -- pushed by US President Donald Trump -- would endure.

While crediting the United States, Egypt, Qatar and Turkey for their role in brokering the ceasefire deal, Indonesia hopes for the opening of humanitarian aid access to Gaza while also calling for the international community to resume talks on a two-state solution.

Thousands of Gazans began heading north in the territory after the Israeli military announced that a ceasefire had come into effect on Friday.

The Israeli government said the ceasefire was to take hold within 24 hours of meetings on Thursday to approve the deal, under which the military should withdraw from Gaza.

A top official within Hamas said Israel will release nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners: 250 among those serving life sentences and 1,700 others detained since the start of the war.

The agreement, to be signed Thursday, also calls for Israel to release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners as well as prompt a surge of aid into Gaza after more than two years of war started by Hamas's unprecedented October 2023 attack on Israel. 

Major General Ruphin Fortunat Dimbisoa Zafisambo is named head of government late Monday in a bid to quell anti-government unrest that has claimed 22 lives.

Indonesian religious groups and civil society organizations rallied in unity on Tuesday to show solidarity with the Palestinian struggle as the Gaza war entered its second year.

Behind closed doors and under tight security, negotiators were to speak through mediators shuttling back and forth, only weeks after Israel tried to kill Hamas's lead negotiators in a strike on Qatar.