Israel's Cabinet Approves Gaza Ceasefire Agreement, Effective from Sunday

Israel's Cabinet Approves Gaza Ceasefire Agreement, Effective from Sunday

Jerusalem – Israel’s Cabinet approved a ceasefire agreement for Gaza early on Saturday, which will release dozens of hostages held in Gaza and temporarily suspend the 15-month-long war with Hamas. This decision marks a significant step toward ending one of the most deadly and destructive conflicts between Israel and Hamas.

The government announced that the ceasefire agreement will take effect starting Sunday. The agreement was announced on Wednesday by mediators Qatar and the United States, although Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously mentioned last-minute complexities regarding hostage releases, which delayed the activation of the agreement.

There are still questions regarding the names and current status of the 33 hostages who will be freed in the first six weeks. Among them are women, children, and elderly or sick individuals. On the first day, three women will be released, and the rest will be freed over the next five weeks.

The release of Palestinian prisoners is also part of the agreement. Israel's Ministry of Justice has published a list of over 700 prisoners to be freed in the first phase, all of whom are young or female. Israel's prison service has stated that they will be responsible for transporting the prisoners, a task previously handled by the International Red Cross during the last ceasefire.

Meanwhile, the ceasefire will allow humanitarian aid to be increased in war-torn Gaza. Aid trucks are prepared near the Rafah border crossing in Egypt.

The Israeli military has stated that in the first phase of the ceasefire, Israeli soldiers will withdraw from some areas of Gaza, and thousands of Palestinians will be able to return to their homes. However, entry will not be permitted into areas where Israeli forces are still present, and strict measures will be taken in response to any threats.

International pressure has been mounting to end the long-standing conflict between Israel and Hamas through this ceasefire.

In the recent conflict, 1,200 Israeli citizens have lost their lives, and over 46,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed, most of whom are women and children.

The next phase of the ceasefire will involve discussions on the release of remaining hostages and the reconstruction of Gaza. However, Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has opposed this agreement and threatened to resign from the government. While his resignation may not collapse the government, it could complicate the situation further.