In a significant move towards peace, the Israeli government officially approved a ceasefire agreement on Saturday aimed at securing the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip. The decision followed a lengthy meeting of all cabinet members, as announced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office.
According to Israeli media reports, the agreement saw substantial support within the government, with 24 ministers voting in favor and eight opposing. \"The Government has approved the framework for the return of the hostages. The framework for the hostages' release will come into effect on Sunday,\" stated Netanyahu's office.
However, despite the impending ceasefire, tensions remained high. Medics in Gaza reported that an Israeli airstrike early on Saturday killed three people in a tent in the Mawasi area west of Khan Younis in the enclave's south. This incident brought the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli strikes to 119 since the ceasefire pact was announced on Wednesday.
Lead U.S. negotiator Brett McGurk expressed optimism about the ceasefire's implementation. Speaking from the White House, he told CNN, \"We have locked down every single detail in this agreement. We are quite confident… it is ready to be implemented on Sunday.\" The White House expects the ceasefire to commence on Sunday morning, with three female hostages to be released to Israel on Sunday afternoon through the Red Cross.
Under the terms of the deal, the ceasefire will begin with an initial six-week phase that includes hostage-for-prisoner exchanges. This phase could pave the way to ending the 15-month-old war. In this period, thirty-three Israeli hostages, including women, children, and men over 50, are due to be freed. In exchange, Israel will release all Palestinian women and children under 19 detained in Israeli jails by the end of the first phase.
The approval of this ceasefire agreement marks a hopeful step towards reducing hostilities and addressing the humanitarian concerns arising from the prolonged conflict.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
