The Israeli government has officially approved a ceasefire agreement aimed at securing the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip, following a lengthy cabinet meeting on Saturday. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced that the agreement will come into effect on Sunday.
In the decisive meeting, 24 ministers voted in favor of the deal, while eight opposed it, 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 confirmed.
The ceasefire marks a significant step toward ending the 15-month-old war, beginning with an initial six-week phase that includes hostage-for-prisoner exchanges. Under the deal, thirty-three Israeli hostages, including women, children, and men over 50, are due to be freed. 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 expressed confidence in the agreement's implementation. \"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. The White House expects the ceasefire to start on Sunday morning, with three female hostages to be released to Israel on Sunday afternoon through the Red Cross.
However, the situation remains tense. 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 brought the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli strikes since the ceasefire pact was announced on Wednesday to 119.
The path to peace is fraught with challenges, but this ceasefire agreement offers a glimmer of hope for both Israelis and Palestinians. As the initial phase unfolds, the international community will be watching closely, hopeful that this agreement will pave the way for a lasting resolution to the conflict.
