Israel’s government has officially approved a ceasefire and hostage release agreement with Hamas, marking a potential turning point in the 15-month conflict that has ravaged the Middle East. The 33-member cabinet deliberated for over seven hours before giving the green light to the deal, with the majority in favor. The agreement, finalized by negotiators in Doha and endorsed by Israel’s security cabinet, will halt the hostilities in Gaza and lead to the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners. It also allows for the delivery of essential aid to the crisis-stricken region, where living conditions are dire. The ceasefire is set to commence at 8:30 a.m. local time on Sunday. The deal includes multiple phases, with the initial phase focusing on the release of hostages and prisoners. Subsequent phases will be negotiated, and a joint operations room in Cairo will oversee the implementation of the agreement. Additionally, humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza will be increased significantly under the terms of the deal.
Trucks loaded with food, clothing, medical supplies, and other essential relief materials have assembled at the Rafah border crossing in anticipation of an agreement set to take effect on Sunday, as reported by Al Qahera News. Originating from different areas within the Egyptian region of North Sinai, some of these trucks have been waiting for months, the news outlet revealed.
Despite this promising development, the United Nations issued a cautionary note on Thursday, emphasizing that the increased aid provision would serve as merely a starting point in addressing the dire humanitarian crisis that has engulfed the region. The breakthrough in negotiations has sparked a renewed sense of hope among the families of Israeli hostages currently held in Gaza, many of whom are grappling with uncertainty regarding the fate of their loved ones.
Sharone Lifschitz, whose father has been in captivity in Gaza since October 7, shared with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour the profound emotional turmoil experienced by those awaiting news of their relatives: “Nobody knows the fate of their loved one for sure. If he has managed to survive, it would truly be a miraculous outcome.”
The upcoming ceasefire set to commence on Sunday will offer a much-needed respite for the residents of Gaza, who have endured relentless Israeli airstrikes over the past 15 months, resulting in widespread destruction across the enclave. Following the announcement by Qatar that an agreement had been reached between Israel and Hamas, scenes of jubilation reverberated throughout Gaza, although the intensity of Israeli bombardment has escalated in the intervening period.
The toll of Israeli strikes post-ceasefire announcement is staggering, with more than 122 individuals, including 33 children, losing their lives as reported by Gaza’s Civil Defense. The previous ceasefire, which transpired in November 2023, lasted a brief week during which 105 hostages held by Hamas, predominantly women, children, and the elderly, were released, alongside approximately 240 Palestinian prisoners liberated from Israeli jails.
As preparations for the impending ceasefire ensued, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu faced a significant political challenge, with two far-right parties within the government threatening to withdraw their support in the event of the deal’s approval. Such a move could potentially jeopardize the prime minister’s parliamentary majority. In a bid to assuage concerns, Netanyahu informed his security cabinet on Friday that he had secured assurances from negotiators regarding U.S. support for a military response should future talks with Hamas falter, according to a source familiar with the discussions as cited by CNN.
Contributions to this report were made by CNN correspondents Nadeen Ebrahim, Abeer Salman, Caitlin Danaher, Lauren Said-Moorhouse, Sana Noor Haq, Kareem Khadder, Jeremy Diamond, Lauren Kent, Helen Regan, and Eric Levenson.
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