Israel's security Cabinet recommended approval of a ceasefire agreement with Hamas, ending the 15-month war in Gaza. The deal, mediated by Qatar and the U.S., aims to release hostages and pave the way for humanitarian assistance. Netanyahu is expected to finalize the agreement, despite resistance from his far-right coalition partners.
Israel i Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Friday that he would convene his security Cabinet later in the day, followed by the full government, to approve a long-awaited ceasefire agreement. The security Cabinet had already recommended approval of the deal, which aims to pause the 15-month war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza and secure the release of dozens of hostages held by militants. Mediators Qatar and the U.S.
had announced the ceasefire on Wednesday, but it faced a delay as Netanyahu cited last-minute snags, blaming Hamas for the hold-up. While Hamas maintained its commitment to the agreement, residents of Gaza and families of the hostages anxiously awaited confirmation.The deal, now pending final approval from the full Cabinet of ministers, is expected to be ratified, potentially leading to the start of the ceasefire as soon as Sunday. However, the agreement has encountered fierce resistance from Netanyahu's far-right coalition partners, whose objections could threaten the stability of his government. Hamas launched the war on October 7, 2023, with a cross-border attack into Israel that resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the capture of about 250 others. Israel responded with a devastating offensive, claiming the lives of over 46,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials who don't differentiate between civilians and militants but estimate that over half of the casualties were women and children. The conflict has extended beyond Gaza's borders, destabilizing the Middle East and sparking global protests. Just on Thursday, Israeli airstrikes in Gaza killed at least 72 people. A pattern often observed in previous conflicts is a surge in military activity in the final hours before ceasefires, employed as a display of strength by both sides. Netanyahu has directed a special task force to prepare for the return of the hostages from Gaza and informed their families about the agreement. He stated that if the deal is approved, the ceasefire could commence on Sunday, with the first group of hostages being released then. Under the terms of the agreement, 33 of the approximately 100 hostages remaining in Gaza are set to be released over a six-week period in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. The agreement also stipulates the withdrawal of Israeli forces from several areas, allowing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to return to their homes and enabling a surge in humanitarian assistance. The remaining hostages, including male soldiers, are scheduled for release in a second, more complex phase, which will be negotiated during the first. Hamas has indicated its unwillingness to release the remaining captives without a lasting ceasefire and full Israeli withdrawal. Conversely, Israel has vowed to continue fighting until the group's dismantlement and maintain indefinite security control over the territory. Jaher Jabareen, Hamas' head of the office responsible for prisoners, announced on Friday that the names of those expected to be released from Israeli jails would be published, though he did not disclose the timing.Long-term questions regarding postwar Gaza remain unanswered, including the question of who will govern the territory and oversee the monumental task of reconstruction. An Egyptian official and a Hamas official confirmed that the last-minute issues revolved around the list of Palestinian prisoners to be released from Israeli jails during the first phase of the agreement. However, these issues have now been resolved. Both officials, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the confidential negotiations, stated that Hamas was shown Israel's approval. The Egyptian official added that an Israeli delegation comprising members of the military and Israel's Shin Bet internal security agency arrived in Cairo on Friday to discuss the reopening of the Rafah crossing, a vital link between the Gaza Strip and Egypt. An Israeli official, also speaking anonymously to discuss the negotiations, confirmed the delegation's trip to Cairo for discussions regarding the crossing.On Thursday, Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel's hard-line national security minister, threatened to resign from the government if Israel approved the ceasefire. He reiterated this threat on Friday through a post on social media platform X: 'If the 'deal' passes, we will leave the government with a heavy heart.' While Ben-Gvir's resignation would not directly bring down the government or derail the ceasefire deal, it would destabilize the government at a crucial juncture and potentially lead to its collapse if other key Netanyahu allies followed suit.
ISRAEL HAMAS CEASEFIRE GAZA HOSTAGES NETANYAHU MIDDLE EAST
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