The Israeli government officially approved a ceasefire agreement on Saturday, paving the way for the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip. After a lengthy meeting, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced that the cabinet had reached a consensus on the deal.
According to sources from Israeli media, 24 ministers voted in favor of the agreement, while eight opposed it. \"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 an official communication from Netanyahu's office.
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 in the southern part of the enclave. This incident brought the total number of Palestinians killed by Israeli strikes since the ceasefire pact was announced on Wednesday to 119.
Brett McGurk, the lead U.S. negotiator, expressed optimism about the implementation of the ceasefire. 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.\" McGurk confirmed that the ceasefire is expected to start 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 begins with an initial six-week phase that includes hostage-for-prisoner exchanges and could potentially lead to an end to the 15-month-old war. Thirty-three Israeli hostages, including women, children, and men over 50, are due to be freed in 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.
The international community is closely monitoring the situation, hopeful that this agreement will mark a significant step toward lasting peace in the region. The forthcoming days are critical as both sides prepare to honor their commitments under the ceasefire deal.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
