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Israel Approves Ceasefire Deal with Hamas Amid Ongoing Conflict
JERUSALEM/CAIRO (Reuters) – In a significant development, the Israeli cabinet has given its approval for a ceasefire agreement with the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which includes provisions for the release of hostages. This decision, announced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office on Saturday, comes just before the proposed ceasefire is set to take effect.
Following an extensive six-hour discussion, the cabinet ratified the deal that could potentially bring to an end the 15-month conflict in the Gaza Strip, a territory governed by Hamas.
According to a brief statement from Netanyahu’s office, “The Government has approved the framework for the return of the hostages. The framework for the hostages’ release will come into effect on Sunday.”
Despite the impending ceasefire, Israeli airstrikes have persisted in Gaza. Medical sources reported that an airstrike early Saturday resulted in the deaths of five individuals in a tent located in the Mawasi region, near Khan Younis. This airstrike increased the total number of Palestinians killed by Israeli bombardments to 119 since the ceasefire was first announced on Wednesday.
U.S. negotiator Brett McGurk indicated that the plan is moving forward as anticipated, stating that all details within the agreement have been carefully organized for implementation. The ceasefire is expected to commence at 0630 GMT on Sunday, as confirmed by a spokesman for the Qatari foreign ministry. The White House has also indicated that three female hostages will be released to Israel later that afternoon via the Red Cross.
The ceasefire agreement incorporates a three-stage plan, beginning with an initial six-week phase involving the exchange of hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners incarcerated in Israel. In the first phase, 33 of the 98 Israeli hostages will be released, including vulnerable groups such as women, children, and the elderly. In exchange, Israel is set to release nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees, a mix of males, females, and teenagers, some of whom are affiliated with militant factions responsible for attacks against Israelis.
Details released by the Israeli Justice Ministry outlined that 30 Palestinian prisoners will be freed for each female hostage on Sunday. Following this release, McGurk noted that there will be additional stages of hostage releases occurring every week.
Internal Opposition in Israel
Despite the cabinet’s approval, the ceasefire deal has faced vehement opposition from hard-liners within the Israeli government. Reports indicate that 24 ministers favored the ceasefire, while eight opposed it. Critics claim that the agreement amounts to a concession to Hamas, with National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir threatening to resign unless the deal is rejected, although he reassured that he would not seek to dissolve the government.
Similarly, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has vocalized his intent to resign if aggressive military actions do not resume against Hamas after the initial ceasefire period.
The Israeli security cabinet encountered a delay previously, which was attributed to Hamas, before ultimately voting in favor of the ceasefire measure. The current conflict escalated after Hamas militants infiltrated Israel on October 7, 2023, leading to the deaths of approximately 1,200 individuals and taking around 250 hostages, as reported by Israeli officials.
The ongoing conflict has devastated Gaza, resulting in over 46,000 fatalities and displacing a significant majority of the 2.3 million residents in the region, according to local authorities.
Humanitarian Implications
If the ceasefire proves effective, it could have a calming effect on tensions across the Middle East, which currently involve various actors, including Iranian proxies situated in Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq, and the occupied West Bank. Civilians in Gaza are facing a dire humanitarian situation characterized by severe shortages of food, warmth, and medical care. The ceasefire agreement includes provisions for increased humanitarian assistance, with aid organizations prepared to furnish essential supplies.
According to the Palestinian relief agency UNRWA, 4,000 truckloads of aid have been lined up at Gaza’s borders, half of which consists of food supplies. The possibility of a truce has raised hopes among locals, who long for an end to the grueling hours spent queuing for basic necessities.
As one displaced Palestinian, Reeham Sheikh al-Eid, expressed, “I hope it will happen so we’ll be able to cook in our homes and make whatever food we want, without having to go to soup kitchens and exhaust ourselves for three or four hours trying to get (food) – sometimes not even making it home.”
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