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Israel government approves ceasefire and hostage release deal with Hamas

The agreement also outlines the release of Palestinian prisoners, including security prisoners, which has sparked debate within Israel.

The Israeli government has officially approved a ceasefire and hostage release agreement with Hamas, signalling a major step towards ending the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The approval came on Friday through a vote of 24-8, with the cabinet giving its green light to the deal in the early hours of Saturday.

The agreement, which is set to take effect on Sunday, will initiate the first phase of a ceasefire in Gaza and facilitate the release of both Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners. According to reports from the Times of Israel, the deal has been hailed as a breakthrough in the long-running conflict, but its approval has not been without controversy.

As part of the deal, Israel will receive the first batch of 33 Israeli hostages who are expected to be freed in the initial phase of the ceasefire. However, the Israeli government has not been informed about the current status of the hostages’ health and condition, though it remains hopeful that the majority of them are still alive. A full status report on the hostages will be provided seven days into the ceasefire, with the identities of those to be released expected to be revealed 24 hours before each release.

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In addition to the hostages, the agreement also outlines the release of Palestinian prisoners, including security prisoners, which has sparked debate within Israel. Opponents of the deal have raised concerns about the release of Palestinian prisoners, and there is potential for a petition to be filed with Israel’s High Court of Justice. However, experts believe that the court is unlikely to intervene.

The ceasefire deal was the result of weeks of negotiations, with Israeli and Hamas teams reaching an agreement in Doha early Friday morning after overcoming final hurdles. The deal was brokered with the assistance of the United States and Qatar, who have both played key roles in facilitating the negotiations.

This development comes after a devastating 15-month war in Gaza, triggered by Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack, which killed over 1,200 Israeli civilians and took more than 250 hostages. In retaliation, Israel launched a massive counter-offensive targeting Hamas in Gaza, but the conflict has drawn severe international criticism for the high civilian death toll. According to Gaza’s health ministry, over 45,000 Palestinians have died, with half of those casualties being women and children.

The current agreement represents a step toward peace, but tensions remain high. Israel’s far-right coalition allies have pressured Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to agree to end the fighting, and there are concerns among the families of the remaining 65 hostages—who include 36 confirmed dead—that the second phase of the deal may not happen, leaving their loved ones in Hamas’ custody.

As the first phase of the ceasefire begins, discussions are expected to focus on the release of the remaining hostages, the complete end of the war, and the future reconstruction of Gaza. The situation remains fluid, and both sides continue to navigate the complexities of a potential long-term resolution.

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