International Criminal Court Prosecutor Karim Khan has defended his decision to bring war crimes allegations against Israel's prime minister, saying Israel had made "no real effort" to investigate the allegations itself.

The deal, mediated by the United States, offered a glimmer of hope in a conflict that has taken an immense human toll.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken had said the U.S. wanted a ceasefire deal in Gaza and all remaining captives released before Donald Trump takes office on Jan. 20.

After intense negotiations, Israel and Hamas have reached a deal that would see a ceasefire and the exchange of hostages in Gaza for Palestinian prisoners.

Israel's inflation eased more than expected in December to end 2024 at a rate of 3.2% versus 3.0% in 2023, according to data on Wednesday from the Central Bureau of Statistics that could entice policymakers to start reducing interest rates soon.

President Joe Biden touted a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, a goal his administration has been working toward for more than a year now.

The Biden administration called for a final push before the president leaves office, with many seeing the Trump inauguration as an unofficial deadline.