Israeli Cabinet Approves Gaza Ceasefire Deal; Hostage Release Begins Sunday
Israel’s cabinet approved a ceasefire agreement with Hamas early Saturday, paving the way for the release of hostages held in Gaza and a pause in the 15-month conflict. The deal, negotiated in Doha, was finalized after over six hours of deliberations.
The ceasefire, scheduled to begin Sunday morning, will initially involve the release of 33 hostages, including women, children, and elderly individuals, in exchange for Palestinian women and minors detained in Israeli prisons. The first three hostages will be released through the Red Cross on Sunday afternoon, with further exchanges every seven days.
While the agreement has been met with relief by many, it has also faced fierce opposition from hardliners within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich voted against the deal, describing it as capitulating to Hamas. However, Ben-Gvir stated he would not resign or attempt to collapse the government.
Gaza, meanwhile, has continued to endure heavy Israeli airstrikes since the deal’s announcement. On Saturday, medics reported that five Palestinians were killed in a strike on Khan Yunis, bringing the death toll since Wednesday to 119.
The ceasefire is expected to ease the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. International relief agencies, including the UNRWA, have prepared thousands of truckloads of aid, including food, fuel, and medicine, ready to enter Gaza once the truce begins.