Live: At least 137 people killed by Israel recovered from rubble in Rafah

• Egypt: President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi credited “strenuous efforts” by Egypt, Qatar, and the US for the agreement. He urged the immediate entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza to address the dire situation.

• Turkey: President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed hope that the deal would benefit “our region and all humanity,” particularly the Palestinians, and pave the way for lasting peace and stability.

• Jordan: Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi called on global powers to ensure the “sufficient and durable” supply of aid to Gaza’s beleaguered population.

• Iraq: The Foreign Ministry celebrated the ceasefire and emphasised the urgent need for humanitarian aid access and international efforts to rebuild areas devastated during over a year of conflict.

• Saudi Arabia: The Foreign Ministry demanded adherence to the deal and called for Israel’s “complete withdrawal” from Gaza and other occupied Palestinian and Arab territories, alongside the return of displaced Palestinians.

• Gulf Cooperation Council: The council expressed hope that the truce would restore security, facilitate aid distribution, and enable displaced Palestinians to return home.

Good morning, Middle East Eye readers,

Despite a ceasefire deal being announced which is set to take force on January 19, Israel's bombardment of Gaza has picked up pace. Here are some of the latest updates on Israel's war on Gaza:

• Relentless bombardment: Israeli air strikes have ravaged the Gaza Strip, even as mediators declared a ceasefire agreement had been reached. Over 40 Palestinians, including numerous children, have reportedly been killed in the latest wave of attacks.

• Ceasefire uncertainty: The Israeli security cabinet is scheduled to vote on the ceasefire deal at 11am Thursday. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office refrains from confirming any details, accusing Hamas of reneging on prior agreements by making demands about which Palestinian prisoners should be exchanged for Israeli captives.

• Desperate humanitarian situation: UN agencies hailed the announcement of a ceasefire but emphasised the urgency of delivering aid to millions of starving and displaced Palestinians trapped in Gaza.

The World Food Programme on Wednesday welcomed a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip saying it had food trucks lined up at Gaza's borders, and needs all border crossings open.

"We welcome the long awaited ceasefire in Gaza. But a ceasefire is the start, not the end,” WFP chief Cindy McCain said. 

“We have food lined up at the borders to Gaza, and need to be able to bring it in at scale. For this: We need all border crossings open," she said. 

“We need security for team members and our partners, including during aid convoys. Humanitarians MUST be protected," she said, adding that the WFP needed more staff inside Gaza and "urgent" funding. 

Iraq on Wednesday hailed the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas and urged immediate aid deliveries to Gaza Strip. 

The foreign ministry stressed the "need to immediately allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip and the Palestinian territories" and "intensify international efforts to rebuild" areas damaged during Israel's brutal offensive.

At least 82 people were killed by Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, Al Jazeera Arabic reported, underscoring how Israel's bloody offensive has continued despite a ceasefire agreement being reached. 

Dozens were killed in Israeli strikes after the ceasefire agreement was announced. Qatar said the agreement is expected to go into effect on Sunday, 19 January. 

There are reports that Israel is stepping up its attacks with a drone strike in the centre of Deir al-Balah city in the central Gaza Strip, with shelling reported in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. 

Meanwhile, Israel has pummelled places like Gaza City and Nuseirat refugee camp. 

Israeli tanks are advancing deeper into the northwestern parts of Nuseirat refugee camp, according to a Palestinian reporter on the ground in the Gaza Strip.

"The sounds are horrific. Israel is ramping up its bombings," Abubaker Abed, a journalist in Gaza, wrote on X on Wednesday. 

Nuseirat refugee camp has been the site of ferocious Israeli assaults for several months. 

The latest advance comes after a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas was announced on Wednesday.  

Gaza's civil defence agency said at least 20 people were killed in Israeli strikes after a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas was announced on Wednesday.

Agency spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP that several strikes hit the territory, killing at least 20 people, including 18 in Gaza City.

The raids "did not stop despite the announcement of the truce", he said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with President-elect Donald Trump and thanked him for his work to advance the release of hostages, Netanyahu’s office said in a statement on Wednesday.

The statement added that the two leaders agreed to meet soon in Washington.

Netanyahu also spoke to President Joe Biden and thanked him, according to Netanyahu’s office.

Qatar’s ruler, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, said on Wednesday his country had a “humanitarian duty” to mediate a ceasefire alongside the US and Egypt.

 “We hope that the announcement of a cease-fire agreement in Gaza will contribute to ending the aggression, destruction and killing in the Strip and the occupied Palestinian territories,” he said in a statement.

At least 18 people were killed by an Israeli strike on Gaza on Wednesday night, as a ceasefire agreement was announced and Palestinians erupted in celebrations. 

The strike hit a house west of Gaza City, near the Engineers Syndicate, according to Al Jazeera Arabic. 

Although a ceasefire deal has been announced, it is not set to go into effect until 19 January.

Jordan welcomed news of a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday.

"The ministry welcomes the announcement of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza,” Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said in a statement, adding that the international community must work to ensure a “sufficient and durable” delivery of aid to the besieged enclave. 

Jordan's monarchy, which governs a majority Palestinian population, was rattled by Israel's war on Gaza. 

Saudi Arabia and Turkey welcomed on Wedneday a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. 

 Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry said it welcomed an end to Israeli "aggression" on Gaza. 

Writing on X, President Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey would continue to stand with the Palestinian people, and hopes the agreement opens the door to lasting peace. 

United Nations secretary general Antonio Guterres said on Wednesday it is “imperative” that the Gaza ceasefire removes obstacles to aid deliveries. 

“It is imperative that this ceasefire removes the significant security and political obstacles to delivering aid across Gaza so that we can support a major increase in urgent life-saving humanitarian support,” the UN chief said. 

He added that the “integrity” of Palestinian territory should be respected under a“unified” Palestinian leadership. 

The ceasefire reached in the Gaza Strip must be a permanent one and "cannot become a glorified humanitarian pause", the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP) said on Wednesday.

The group warned that during the ceasefire, Israeli officials should be held accountable for what it deemed were Israeli war crimes. 

"The perpetrators and architects of this genocide must be brought to justice, and accountability must take place to ensure that another more brutal onslaught of Palestinians is not carried out," the statement said. 

"There must be an end to these two fundamental, unique exemptions in the international order: Israel’s complete impunity from accountability for their war crimes and crimes against humanity, and the consensus that self-determination applies to all people, except for the Palestinians," the statement added. 

Israeli President Isaac Herzog said a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip was the "right move" for the state of Israel, after it "failed in its duty and the most basic covenant" to protect Israelis. 

"I say in the clearest terms: This is the right move...There is no greater moral, human, Jewish, or Israeli obligation than to bring our sons and daughters back to us - whether to recover at home or to be laid to rest," Herzog said.

He urged Israel's cabinet to approve the deal despite the "significant challenges" it will bring.