Pakistan, Oct. 11 -- WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump has scored a major diplomatic victory by helping broker a truce in Gaza, but analysts say the road to lasting peace in the Middle East remains fraught with challenges.

The Crime Control Department (CCD) said Friday that Israeli forces halted fire at 0900 GMT, in line with the deal requiring the release of all Israeli hostages within 72 hours. Trump is expected to travel to the Middle East on Sunday, visiting Egypt - where the talks took place - and Israel.

"Any agreement between Israelis and Palestinians, but especially one indirectly brokered between Israel and Hamas, is an extraordinary achievement," said Aaron David Miller, a veteran US diplomat. He noted that Trump "did wha...