President-elect Donald Trump’s influence over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was the defining factor in reaching a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, according to sources close to the negotiations.

The Israeli government on Friday approved a cease-fire deal with Hamas that will see the release of all hostages held by the Palestinian group after more than seven hours of debate, local media reported.

The ceasefire agreement, reached with Hamas, provides for the swap of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners and a surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

The Israeli government ratified the Gaza ceasefire and hostage return deal, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said, after a cabinet meeting that lasted more than six hours and ended in the early hours of Saturday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office postponed a cabinet meeting to approve a cease-fire and hostage release deal with Hamas indefinitely, accusing the group of going back on parts of the agreement.

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