As an uneasy truce between Israel and Hezbollah offers the Lebanese a desperately needed reprieve, Palestinians in Gaza feel abandoned, even as the US pushes for a renewed effort to end the fighting in the enclave.

Analysts say significant gaps remain, including over the presence of Israeli troops in Gaza and Hamas’s future role.

Mediator Qatar has said it will suspend its efforts until the two warring sides are prepared to make concessions. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said on Wednesday the group "appreciates" Lebanon's right to reach an agreement that protects its people, and it hopes for a deal to end the war in Gaza. A ceasefire between Israel and the Lebanese Hezbollah movement came into effect on Wednesday after both sides accepted an agreement brokered by the United States and France,

Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri on Wednesday expressed hope that a US-French brokered cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon would pave the way for a similar agreement to end the war in Gaza.

Hamas is ready to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza, a senior official in the Palestinian group said, hailing the ceasefire that took hold in Lebanon. “We have informed mediators in Egypt, Qatar and Turkey that Hamas is ready for a ceasefire agreement and a serious deal to exchange prisoners,