Srinagar: Israel’s government has approved a new ceasefire and hostage release agreement with Hamas, setting the stage for implementation on Sunday. The decision came after extended discussions into the night, with two far-right ministers opposing the deal.
In a post on X, foreign minister Majid al-Ansari said the ceasefire will go into effect at 8:30 am (6:30 GMT) on Sunday, and advised people to exercise caution and wait for directions from officials.
Early Saturday morning, Israel’s Cabinet approved the deal for a ceasefire in Gaza that would release dozens of hostages and pause the 15-month war with Hamas, bringing the sides a step closer to ending their deadliest and most destructive fighting ever.
The agreement, finalized with mediation from Qatar, the US, and Egypt, includes several phases:
Hostage Exchange: In the first six weeks, 33 Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza will be exchanged for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners including women and children in Israeli jails.
Ceasefire and Aid: Israeli forces will withdraw from densely populated areas of Gaza. Displaced Palestinians will begin returning to their homes, and 600 aid trucks per day will be allowed into Gaza, a significant increase from the UN-reported daily average of 43 in January.
Further Negotiations: After 16 days, discussions will commence on releasing the remaining hostages, a full Israeli troop withdrawal, and achieving long-term peace.
Reconstruction: The final phase will focus on rebuilding Gaza and returning the bodies of any remaining hostages.
The largely devastated Gaza is expected to see a surge in humanitarian aid. Trucks carrying aid lined up Friday on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing into Gaza.
Hamas triggered the war with its October 7, 2023, cross-border attack into Israel that killed some 1,200 people and left some 250 others captive. Nearly 100 hostages remain in Gaza.
Israel responded with a devastating offensive that has killed more than 46,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials.
Mediators Qatar and the US announced the ceasefire Wednesday, but the deal was in limbo for more than a day as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted there were last-minute complications that he blamed on the Hamas militant group.
