The Israeli government has formally approved a ceasefire agreement aimed at securing the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip. Following a lengthy meeting on Saturday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced that the cabinet members had reached a consensus on the deal.
According to the statement from Netanyahu's office, \"The Government has approved the framework for the return of the hostages. The framework for the hostages' release will come into effect on Sunday.\"
Israeli media reported that 24 ministers voted in favor of the agreement, while eight opposed it. The ceasefire is set to commence on Sunday morning, marking a significant step towards de-escalating the conflict that has persisted over the past 15 months.
Lead U.S. negotiator Brett McGurk stated that the White House expects the ceasefire to begin as planned, with three female hostages 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.
Under the terms of the deal, the initial phase of the ceasefire will last six weeks and includes hostage-for-prisoner exchanges. Thirty-three Israeli hostages, including women, children, and men over 50, are due to be freed during this phase. In return, Israel will release all Palestinian women and children under 19 detained in Israeli jails by the end of the first phase.
Meanwhile, tensions remain high in Gaza. Medics 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 brings the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli strikes to 119 since the ceasefire pact was announced on Wednesday.
The ceasefire agreement holds the potential to pave the way towards ending the prolonged conflict, offering a glimmer of hope for peace and stability in the region.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
