Inside a lavish clubhouse on Doha’s waterfront, tensions strained by months of fruitless back-and-forth weighed on negotiators as the hour neared 3 a.m.

The first stage of the deal would see 33 hostages set free, including children and women. Read more at straitstimes.com.

The United States, Egypt and Qatar have mediated the long-running efforts to halt the fighting in the ravaged territory.

The Middle East team delivered editorially sharp, competitive, well-sourced, visually rich, and all-format reporting as the ceasefire deal was announced,