The coming 48 hours is likely to be pivotal when it comes to ending the war in Gaza after Hamas agreed to accept elements of the ceasefire deal put forward by US President Donald Trump.

The group has agreed to release all Israeli hostages and transfer governance of Gaza to an independent Palestinian technocratic body.

This is a shift for Hamas, which has controlled the territory for many years, and signals pressure on the group due to ongoing Israeli attacks and a worsening humanitarian crisis.

Hamas was also under pressure due to an ultimatum by Mr Trump to accept his Gaza peace deal by tomorrow or face “all hell”.

The plan outlined by Donald Trump earlier this week proposes an immediate halt to fighting and the release of all Israeli hostages, both living and dead, within 72 hours in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

Aisling Kenny reports from Tel Aviv

The agreement to release all hostages will give families in Israel hope after a long campaign to secure their release.

The Hamas statement is significant, but despite signs of progress obstacles still remain.

The group has made no commitment to disarm at this point, a demand by Israel and the US that it has previously rejected.

Hamas said the aspects of the proposal touching on the future of Gaza and Palestinian rights, should be decided with other factions and based on international law.

The US President has now called on Israel to stop its bombing in Gaza, citing the need to ensure the safe release of hostages and create conditions for negotiation.

Israel has said it is prepared for the implementation of the first stage of the plan apparently referring to the release of all hostages.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has faced intense domestic criticism with families of the hostages protesting for their return and the economic toll of the long running war.

But on the other hand, the PM’s right wing coalition partners are reluctant to agree to any ceasefire deal without guarantees of demilitarisation by Hamas.

The US President will be keen to deliver on pledges to end the war and return dozens of hostages ahead of the second anniversary of the Hamas attacks on Tuesday.

Gaza’s Health ministry says over 66,000 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict began.

There is a real opening for peace now driven by the humanitarian catastrophe within Gaza, but without compromises on weapons this could only be a brief pause in a long running and painful conflict.