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🎧 The agreement starts with a pause of airstrikes and a complex prisoner exchange. Hundreds of Palestinians held in Israel would be freed and crucially needed food, fuel and medical supplies would enter Gaza, NPR’s Aya Batrawy tells Up First. President-elect Donald Trump brought an incoming sense of urgency to complete the deal. The ceasefire agreement attempts to do a lot but leaves some questions, including: Who will govern Gaza from the Palestinian side? And how do you begin rebuilding? Ultimately, the deal doesn’t guarantee long-term security for either side because it doesn’t address a pathway to lasting peace and Palestinian statehood.

🎧 The deal is welcome news for Palestinians, but while there is some cautious hope, some say it’s too little, too late, NPR’s Hadeel Al-Shalchi says. Airstrikes have continued even with the announcement of the deal. The sentiment in Israel is similar. They are waiting to see the deal implemented, and there has been frustration with the government for taking so long to get to this point. Netanyahu is in a tricky political position when it comes to approving the deal, as his government might collapse because some right-wing ministers are against the agreement.

🎧 The building codes for fire-prone areas in California require the use of fire-resistant materials for things like roofs and siding, NPR’s Lauren Sommer says. But that’s only for houses built since 2008 and a majority of Los Angeles’ housing stock dates back to before then. There are also strict rules about vegetation around homes in risky areas. Starting next year, almost no vegetation will be allowed within five feet of a house. The new rule has received some pushback from homeowners who like greenery outside their property.

➡️ What do you do after your home is destroyed by a wildfire? Read a survivor's advice.