The Israeli government officially approved a ceasefire agreement on Saturday aimed at securing the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip. Following a lengthy meeting of all cabinet members, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced the decision to move forward with the deal.
In a statement from Netanyahu’s office, it was confirmed: “The Government has approved the framework for the return of the hostages. The framework for the hostages’ release will come into effect on Sunday.” According to Israeli media reports, the vote saw 24 ministers in favor of the agreement, while eight opposed it.
Despite the impending ceasefire, tensions remained high. Medics in Gaza reported that an Israeli air strike early on Saturday resulted in the deaths of three people in a tent in the Mawasi area west of Khan Younis, located in the southern part of the enclave. This incident brought the total number of Palestinians killed by Israeli strikes to 119 since the ceasefire pact was announced on Wednesday.
Lead U.S. negotiator Brett McGurk stated that the White House expects the ceasefire to commence on Sunday morning. He revealed that three female hostages are scheduled to be released to Israel on Sunday afternoon through the 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 told CNN from the White House.
The ceasefire deal outlines an initial six-week phase that includes hostage-for-prisoner exchanges and could pave the way toward ending the 15-month-old war. During this phase, 33 Israeli hostages, including women, children, and men over 50, are set to be freed. In return, Israel will release all Palestinian women and children under 19 detained in Israeli jails by the end of the first phase.
The agreement has raised hopes among global observers for a potential de-escalation in the longstanding conflict between Israel and Palestinian groups in Gaza. The international community is watching closely as both sides prepare to implement the terms of the ceasefire.
(With input from Reuters)
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
