The Israeli government officially approved a ceasefire agreement on Saturday aimed at securing the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip, following an extensive meeting of cabinet members, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced.
In a statement, Netanyahu's office said, "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, 24 ministers voted in favor of the deal, while eight opposed it.
The ceasefire agreement is set to begin with an initial six-week phase that includes hostage-for-prisoner exchanges and holds the potential to end the 15-month-old conflict. Under the terms of the deal, 33 Israeli hostages, including women, children, and men over the age of 50, are due to be freed during this phase. In exchange, Israel will release all Palestinian women and children under 19 detained in Israeli jails by the end of the first phase.
Lead U.S. negotiator Brett McGurk indicated that 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. "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.
Despite the announcement of the ceasefire pact on Wednesday, medics in Gaza reported ongoing Israeli air strikes. An early morning strike on Saturday killed three people in a tent in the Mawasi area west of Khan Younis in the southern part of the enclave. This incident brought the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli strikes since the announcement to 119.
The agreement raises hopes for a de-escalation in the region and the potential for peace negotiations. The international community, including humanitarian organizations, has been closely monitoring the situation, emphasizing the importance of ending hostilities and addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
(With input from Reuters)
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
