President-elect Donald Trump said mass deportations will begin “very quickly” after taking office, one of a number of plans he discussed in a phone interview with NBC News on Saturday.

The deplorable humanitarian conditions in northern Gaza have caused bitter infighting within the Biden administration.

Qatar, which mediated the agreement, said the cease-fire deal was set to begin at 8:30 a.m. local time on Sunday.

International Criminal Court Prosecutor Karim Khan has defended his decision to bring war crimes allegations against Israel's prime minister, saying Israel had made "no real effort" to investigate the allegations itself.

Only hours after a possible ceasefire deal was announced between Israel and Hamas, Khalil al Hayya, chairman of the terrorist organization, declared victory, contending that the mass murder of Israeli civilians on Oct. 7, 2023, would “forever be a source of pride for our people.”

Secretary of State Antony Blinken had said the U.S. wanted a ceasefire deal in Gaza and all remaining captives released before Donald Trump takes office on Jan. 20.

Israel's inflation eased more than expected in December to end 2024 at a rate of 3.2% versus 3.0% in 2023, according to data on Wednesday from the Central Bureau of Statistics that could entice policymakers to start reducing interest rates soon.

The Biden administration called for a final push before the president leaves office, with many seeing the Trump inauguration as an unofficial deadline.

The deal kicked in at 8:15 am Gaza time on Sunday, nearly three hours after it was scheduled to come into effect.

Trump is poised to employ his mastery of spectacle to expand the oppressive forms of state violence at work in the US.

President-elect Donald Trump will hold a rally in Washington on Sunday, one day before his inauguration inside the Capitol rotunda. Follow for live updates on the final day of the presidential transition.