Israel and Hamas have agreed to pause the devastating war in the Gaza Strip, mediators announced Wednesday, raising the possibility of winding down the deadliest and most destructive fighting between the bitter enemies.

Officials say an agreement for a six-week pause in fighting is still likely soon, but frequent past failures to get a deal finalized have left everyone cautious and saying nothing can be taken for granted.

Israel and Hamas appear to be nearing a ceasefire deal, according to optimistic statements from officials representing them as well as the United States and Qatar, where talks are being held.

The ceasefire announced between Israel and Hamas on Wednesday gave hope to families of hostages and war-weary Palestinians in the Gaza Strip — but their nightmare is far from over.

The United Nations human rights chief on Wednesday called for the lifting of Western sanctions imposed on Syria over its yearslong civil war, now that former leader Bashar Assad has been ousted and sent into exile.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his aides have spent months trying to sell Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Gulf Arab nations on the plan, which calls for a unified Palestinian-led government and and interim foreign-led security mission that would eventually lead to a permanent government run by a reformed PA.

Lebanon, which has been run by a caretaker administration, now has a new government in waiting for the first time in two years. The prime minister-designate, Nawaf Salam, vowed to rebuild and said he will not marginalize any side in Lebanon, an apparent reference to Hezbollah.

Thousands of Israelis rallied in Tel Aviv on Tuesday night in support of a deal, but in Jerusalem, hundreds of hardliners marched against a deal. Meanwhile, an Israeli airstrike in central Gaza killed at least 11 Palestinians late Tuesday, while earlier strikes killed at least 18 people.

Palestinian activists and residents planted a grove of 250 olive trees in a northern West Bank town on Monday in memory of the late U.S. President Jimmy Carter, describing him as a staunch supporter of the Palestinian cause.

Lebanon’s new president has asked prominent diplomat and jurist Nawaf Salam to form the country’s new government after Salam was named prime minister by a large number of legislators Monday. The move apparently angered the Hezbollah group and its allies.

A growing number of Israeli soldiers are speaking out against the Israel-Hamas war. They say they did or saw things that crossed ethical lines. Some 200 soldiers have signed a letter saying they’ll stop fighting if the government doesn’t secure a ceasefire.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will host his Iranian counterpart this week for the signing of a broad partnership pact between Moscow and Tehran, the Kremlin said Monday.

U.S. and Arab mediators made significant progress overnight toward brokering a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war and the release of scores of hostages held in the Gaza Strip, but a deal hasn’t been reached yet, officials said Monday.

The Taliban must provide Ryan Corbett, an American held in Afghanistan for nearly two years, with immediate medical care to prevent irreparable harm to his health or even his death, a United Nations expert said Thursday.

President Joe Biden spoke Sunday with relatives of three Americans the U.S. government is looking to bring home from Afghanistan, but no agreement has been reached on a deal to get them back, family members said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Joe Biden spoke Sunday about efforts to reach a ceasefire and hostage release deal in the Israel-Hamas war, a sign of the intensifying push to reach a deal before Donald Trump’s inauguration next week.

Mohammad Abedini was scheduled to appear at a Milan court on Wednesday in connection with his bid for house arrest pending the extradition process to the U.S. Abedini was arrested on a U.S. warrant on Dec. 16, three days before Italian journalist Cecilia Sala was detained while on a reporting trip to Iran.

European Union foreign ministers will meet in late January to discuss easing sanctions imposed on Syria, the bloc’s foreign policy chief said Sunday. However, she said the move would depend on Syria’s new rulers carrying out an inclusive political transition.

The explosion occurred Saturday at the Zaher district in the province of Bayda, the Houthi rebel-run Health Ministry said in a statement. At least 67 others were injured, including 40 in critical condition.