Israel-Hamas ceasefire comes into force, US President Joe Biden hails truce

• US President Joe Biden hailed a truce to end the conflict between Israel & Hamas. The 11-day conflict over the Gaza Strip claimed the lives of more than 200 people. The fight also led to rising pressure in the US to distance itself from PM Benjamin Netanyahu government. Israel & Hamas agreed to an Egyptian-mediated ceasefire designed to end their conflict. The announcement came late on Thursday amid growing pressure from the Biden administration. The 11-day conflict reportedly killed an estimated 232 Palestinians & 12 Israelis. Israel’s security cabinet unanimously voted for an unconditional truce with Hamas. According to reports, the ceasefire took effect at 2 am local time on Friday.