In a significant move towards de-escalation, 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 extended meeting of all cabinet members, as announced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office.
The approval saw 24 ministers voting in favor of the deal, with 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,\" Netanyahu's office stated.
However, tensions remain high as medics in Gaza reported that an Israeli air strike 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.
Lead U.S. negotiator Brett McGurk indicated that the White House expects the ceasefire to commence 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.
Under the terms of the deal, the ceasefire begins with an initial six-week phase that includes hostage-for-prisoner exchanges and could pave the way for ending the 15-month-old war. Thirty-three Israeli hostages, including women, children, and men over 50, are set 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.
This development marks a critical juncture in the long-standing conflict, offering a glimmer of hope for peace and stability in the region. Stakeholders on both sides and international observers will be closely monitoring the implementation of the ceasefire and the subsequent exchange processes.
(With input from Reuters)
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
