Israel's economy minister said on Wednesday it seeks a peaceful Gaza but has not decided whether to help fund its reconstruction and would not allow the rebuilding of Hamas rule that he said could lead to another cross-border militant attack.

Israeli troops have pulled back to the edges of Gaza, the first hostages have been released and many Palestinians have returned to what remains of their homes in the first few days of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal.

Israel’s military is using lessons from the Gaza war in its new West Bank operation to ensure “terrorism does not return,” according to Defense Minister Israel Katz.

The Israeli military says its soldiers killed an alleged militant in Gaza whom it said posed a threat to its forces

Israel’s security Cabinet approves of the Gaza cease-fire, which would pause the war with Hamas and release dozens of hostages.

The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza came into effect Sunday, halting more than 15 months of devastating war. Early Monday, the Israeli Prison Service released 90 Palestinians outside Ofer Prison in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The release came hours after three Israeli hostages were released by Hamas.

The ceasefire agreement, reached with Hamas, provides for the swap of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners and a surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Israel says troops fired on masked gunmen in Gaza, but it remains committed to the ceasefire as it continues a new offensive in the West Bank.

Slifer's cousin, Carmel Gat, was among six hostages killed in Gaza last spring, a loss that she lives with daily. There's nothing she prays harder for than the safe return of all hostages, but watching young women come home was also a deeply painful reminder that Carmel never will.

I believe that peace doesn’t just come from putting down weapons but from having the courage to engage in meaningful conversations and dialogues. After 15 months of devastating conflict in Gaza, a ceasefire has finally been achieved through dialogue between the parties involved.