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Israel’s security cabinet has approved the Gaza ceasefire deal that involves the exchange of hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu convened the security cabinet meeting to vote on ceasefire deal | AP Image
Israel’s security cabinet has approved the Gaza ceasefire agreement that involves the exchange of dozens of hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails and a temporary pause in the 15-month-long conflict.
The much-awaited decision came as Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu convened his security cabinet to vote on the long-pending ceasefire deal with Gaza on Friday.
The approval came after an unexpected delay, raising concerns that last-minute disagreements between Israel and Hamas might jeopardize the agreement.
Additionally, far-right members of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition government threatened to undermine months of efforts to resolve the conflict.
Full Cabinet Nod Awaited
After the security cabinet’s approval, the Gaza ceasefire deal will now go to the full cabinet for the final signoff so that the agreement can be implemented on Sunday, with the release of the initial batch of hostages.
On the other hand, the Israeli High Court is scheduled to hear petitions against the provisions and elements mentioned in the agreement. However, it’s not likely to intervene, according to local media reports.
Under the first phase of the agreement, set to last 42 days, Hamas has agreed to release 33 hostages, including children, women—such as female soldiers—and individuals over the age of 50.
In return, Israel will release 50 Palestinian prisoners for each female Israeli soldier freed by Hamas and 30 prisoners for other female hostages.
The French president, Emmanuel Macron, has said that the French-Israeli citizens Ofer Kalderon and Ohad Yahalomi are in the first group of hostages to be freed.
The 15 months of war between Israel and Palestine that killed nearly 48,000 people was triggered after the Hamas attack of 7 October 2023. During the horrific episode, over 1,200 people were killed in Israel and 250 people were taken hostage.
One hundred of the hostages were freed in exchange for 240 women and children held in Israeli jails, as the result of a ceasefire deal struck in November 2023 that collapsed after a week.
