Israel has accepted the new proposal for a ceasefire with Hamas from US envoy Steve Witkoff, according to an Israeli official.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed hostage families that Israel has accepted a new ceasefire proposal brokered by US envoy Steve Witkoff, according to a Reuters report citing Israeli media.

The United States told the United Nations Security Council on Thursday that its proposal for a ceasefire in Ukraine was "Russia's best possible outcome" and President Vladimir Putin should take the deal.

Pope Leo called for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all hostages in a May 28 general audience, following in the steps of his predecessor Pope Francis, who was both praised and criticized for using his position to advocate for ending the war in Gaza.

One person was killed in an Israeli drone strike in southern Lebanon on Thursday, marking a new violation of a ceasefire agreement between the two sides, the Health Ministry said. The ministry’s Emergency Operations Center said a man was killed in the strike that targeted the Ali al-Taher forest in Nabatieh al-Fawqa area.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Thursday discussed the ongoing efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza in a phone call with officials from Palestinian militant group Hamas' political bureau, a Turkish diplomatic source said.

More than 300 writers from the UK and Ireland have signed a letter calling for immediate aid and a ceasefire in Gaza.