Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hamas of backing out of a cease-fire deal to release hostages and end the war in Gaza, which has raged for more than a year.

UN chief Antonio Guterres has welcomed the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, describing the deal as a “critical first step” and urging parties to “seize this opportunity” to establish a credible political path to a better future for Palestinians,

The deal, mediated by the United States, offered a glimmer of hope in a conflict that has taken an immense human toll.