Israel's Cabinet approved a deal early Saturday for a ceasefire in Gaza that would release dozens of hostages held there and end the 15-month war with Hamas, bringing the sides one step closer to ending the deadliest and most destructive fighting of all time.
The government ratified the agreement in the early hours of Saturday after meeting for more than six hours, according to a statement from the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Qatari and US mediators announced the truce on Wednesday, but the deal was in limbo for more than a day as Netanyahu alleged last-minute problems with his blamed on the militant group Hamas.
The truce – only the second achieved during the war – is due to begin on Sunday, although key questions remain, including the names of the 33 hostages who will be released if spread in the first six weeks of the ceasefire and who among them is still alive.
The cabinet met well past the start of the Jewish Sabbath, reflecting the importance of the timing. According to Jewish law, the Israeli government usually closes all business for the Sabbath except in life or death emergencies.
Netanyahu ordered a special task force to prepare to receive the hostages returning from Gaza and said that their families had been informed that an agreement had been reached.
Hundreds of Palestinian detainees are also to be released, and largely devastated Gaza should see an increase in humanitarian aid.
Israel's justice ministry released a list of 95 Palestinian prisoners freed in the first phase of the deal and said the release will not begin until 4pm local time on Sunday. Everyone on the list is younger or female.
Israel's Prison Services said it would transport the prisoners instead of the International Committee of the Red Cross, which handled transport at the first ceasefire, to avoid “public scenes of excitement”. Prisoners have been accused of crimes such as incitement, vandalism, support to terrorism, acts of terrorism, attempted murder or throwing stones or Molotov cocktails.
Deal would make way for more help
Aid trucks entered the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing into Gaza on Friday. An Egyptian official said an Israeli delegation from the army and Israel's internal security agency Shin Bet arrived in Cairo on Friday to discuss the reopening of the crossing. An Israeli official confirmed that a delegation was going to Cairo. The two spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the private discussions.
Israeli forces will also withdraw from many areas in Gaza during the first phase of the ceasefire and hundreds of thousands of Palestinians will be able to return to what remains of their homes.
The Israeli military said that as its forces gradually withdraw from certain places and routes in Gaza, residents will not be allowed to return to areas where troops are present or near the Israel-Gaza border. and that any threat to Israeli forces will be met. response.”
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that an agreement had been reached with Hamas to return hostages held in Gaza, after a day of concerns that it could collapse.
Hamas led the cross-border attack into Israel on October 7, 2023 that killed about 1,200 people and left about 250 more in captivity. Nearly 100 hostages remain in Gaza.
Israel responded with a devastating offensive that killed more than 46,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, who do not distinguish between civilians and terrorists but say women and children make up more than half of the casualties. dead
Fighting continued into Friday, and Gaza's Health Ministry said 88 bodies had arrived at hospitals in the past 24 hours. In previous conflicts, both sides suspended military operations in the final hours before ceasefires as a way to project strength.
The rest of the enemies, including male soldiers, are to be released in a second – and much more difficult – phase that will be negotiated in the first.
Hamas has said it will not release the remaining prisoners without a permanent ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal, while Israel has vowed to continue fighting until it destroys the group and maintain open security controls on the land.
Long-term questions about post-war Gaza remain, including who will govern the area or oversee the daunting task of reconstruction.
The conflict has rocked the Middle East and sparked protests around the world. It also highlighted political tensions within Israel, drawing strong opposition from Netanyahu's far-right coalition partners.
On Thursday, Israel's national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, threatened to leave the government if Israel agreed to the ceasefire. He reiterated on Friday, writing on the social media platform X: “If the 'agreement' passes, we will leave the government with a heavy heart.
Ben-Gvir's resignation would not bring down the government or nullify the cease-fire agreement, but the move would destabilize the government during a period of calm and could eventually collapse if other key Netanyahu allies join Ben-Gvir. Gvir.
