Israeli_Cabinet_Approves_Gaza_Ceasefire_Deal__Hostage_Release_to_Begin_Sunday

Israeli Cabinet Approves Gaza Ceasefire Deal, Hostage Release to Begin Sunday

In a pivotal move toward 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 came after an extensive meeting involving all cabinet members, as announced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office.

The agreement saw substantial support, with 24 ministers voting in favor and eight opposing, according to Israeli media reports. \"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.

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 southern part of the enclave. 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 indicated that the ceasefire is expected to start on Sunday morning. \"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. He added that three female hostages are to be released to Israel on Sunday afternoon through the Red Cross.

The ceasefire deal initiates with an initial six-week phase, including hostage-for-prisoner exchanges, and could pave the way to ending the 15-month-old war. Under the agreement, thirty-three Israeli hostages, including women, children, and men over 50, are due to be freed in 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.

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