Israel and Hamas call a truce to free hostages in swap for prisoners, and allow more aid into Gaza

News Snapshot:

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel and Hamas agreed to a four-day cease-fire in the war in Gaza — a diplomatic breakthrough that will free dozens of hostages held by militants as well as Palestinians imprisoned in Israel, and bring a large influx of aid to the besieged territory. The truce announced Wednesday raised hopes of eventually winding down the war, which was triggered by Hamas’ Oct. 7 rampage into Israel. Now in its seventh week, the war has leveled vast swaths of Gaza, fueled a surge of violence in the occupied West Bank, and stirred fears of a wider conflagration across...