President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump are both claiming credit for Israel and Hamas agreeing to a ceasefire deal in Gaza after the White House brought Trump's Middle East envoy into negotiations that have dragged on for months.

Under the terms of the ceasefire, Hamas has agreed to return 33 hostages within the first 16 days, and then negotiate to return the rest. Israel has agreed to a withdrawal from most of Gaza, except for a buffer area around the perimeter. As the hostages are released, Israel would also free more than 1,000 Palestinians detained in Israeli jails.

Even before it was signed, the Gaza ceasefire forced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu into a tight spot - between a new U.S. president promising peace and far-right allies who want war to resume.

Analysts say the fragility of the truce agreement and escalating violence in the West Bank threaten US efforts to normalise Arab-Israel ties.

U.S. President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy said on Wednesday he would be part of a team of "outside overseers" deployed in and along the Gaza Strip to ensure safety following a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas militants.

U.S. President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy said on Wednesday he would travel to the region to be part of what he described as an inspection team deployed