Washington: After months of gridlock, the Israel-Hamas ceasefire in Gaza came together in days after a deft manoeuvre – or perhaps a misunderstanding – by President Donald Trump that boxed in the two adversaries.

Either way, efforts to wind down the devastating war unleashed by Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel have led to a breakthrough , and the last 48 hostages – about 20 of them believed to be alive — are set to be returned under the agreement announced on Wednesday.

Hamas saw hostages more as a liability than an asset over time, providing an opening for the deal, according to two senior US officials who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity.

One of the officials added that negotiators, led by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, had

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