JERUSALEM/CAIRO. Israel’s cabinet has approved a ceasefire agreement with Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, marking a potential turning point in the 15-month-long Gaza conflict. The deal, which also includes provisions for the release of hostages, is set to take effect on Sunday, according to an official statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.
Following a six-hour deliberation, the Israeli government ratified the agreement early Saturday. “The Government has approved the framework for the return of the hostages. The framework for the hostages’ release will come into effect on Sunday,” the statement read.
Despite the upcoming ceasefire, violence persisted. Medics in Gaza reported an Israeli airstrike in the early hours of Saturday that killed three individuals in a tent in the Mawasi area near Khan Younis. This brings the Palestinian death toll to 119 since the announcement of the agreement on Wednesday.
U.S. negotiator Brett McGurk confirmed that the ceasefire is expected to commence Sunday morning. He also announced that three female hostages held by Hamas would be released Sunday afternoon via the International Red Cross. “We have locked down every single detail in this agreement. We are quite confident… it is ready to be implemented on Sunday,” McGurk stated during an interview with CNN.
Under the terms of the agreement, the initial phase of the ceasefire will span six weeks. This phase includes the exchange of hostages for prisoners, setting a precedent for broader peace efforts. The deal stipulates that Hamas will release 33 hostages, including women, children, and men over the age of 50. In return, Israel has agreed to free all Palestinian women and minors under 19 currently detained in Israeli jails.
The Israeli Justice Ministry has released a list of 95 Palestinian prisoners slated for release as part of the first exchange on Sunday. McGurk also detailed a schedule for subsequent releases, beginning with four additional female hostages after seven days, followed by three hostages every successive week.
The accord faced opposition within Israel’s cabinet, with reports indicating that while 24 ministers voted in favor, eight were against the deal. This approval follows an initial vote by the Israeli security cabinet on Friday.
The war has devastated the densely populated Gaza Strip, killing over 46,000 people and displacing the majority of its 2.3 million residents, according to local authorities. The conflict has extended beyond Gaza, involving Iran and allied groups such as Lebanon’s Hezbollah, Yemen’s Houthis, and armed factions in Iraq and the West Bank.
If successful, the ceasefire could mark a significant step toward de-escalating tensions in the Middle East. It offers hope for stability in a region severely impacted by the extended conflict.
Stay tuned for updates on the ceasefire and developments in the Middle East.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
