In a significant breakthrough, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that a deal has been reached with Hamas to implement a ceasefire in Gaza and secure the release of Israeli hostages held by the militant group. The agreement comes after last-minute obstacles threatened to unravel weeks of intensive negotiations mediated by the United States.
Netanyahu Convenes Security Cabinet to Approve Deal
Despite earlier delays attributed to Hamas allegedly reneging on key aspects of the agreement, Netanyahu has now ordered his security cabinet to convene on Friday to formally ratify the ceasefire deal. The prime minister’s office stated:
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was informed by the negotiating team that agreements have been reached on a deal to release the hostages.
Office of the Prime Minister of Israel
The cabinet meeting, originally slated for Thursday, was postponed after Netanyahu accused Hamas of attempting to extract further concessions at the eleventh hour. No evidence was provided to substantiate the allegation, which Hamas vehemently denied.
Phased Approach to Ceasefire and Prisoner Release
Under the terms of the 42-day ceasefire agreement, Hamas has committed to releasing 33 Israeli hostages. In exchange:
- Israel will free 50 Palestinian prisoners for each female Israeli soldier released
- 30 Palestinian detainees will be freed for each civilian hostage handed over
- Palestinians displaced from their homes in Gaza will be granted freedom of movement
- The wounded will be permitted to seek medical treatment abroad
- Aid deliveries to Gaza will be increased to 600 trucks per day
A second phase of the deal envisions Israel’s complete withdrawal from Gaza, with the territory’s future governance to be addressed 16 days after the ceasefire takes hold.
Heavy Toll of Gaza Offensive Continues
Despite the imminent ceasefire, Israeli airstrikes have persisted, claiming the lives of at least 80 Palestinians and wounding hundreds more since the truce was announced, according to Gaza’s civil defense agency. The overall Palestinian death toll has surpassed 46,700, with more than 110,000 injured since the onset of Israel’s military campaign.
Among the recent fatalities were five children killed in an airstrike on the northern city of Jabalia, as well as Fatin Shaqoura-Salha, the head nurse at Al-Awda Hospital in Nuseirat.
Houthis Suspend Attacks, Arab States Urge PA Role in Gaza
In a related development, Yemen’s Houthi rebels have pledged to halt their attacks on Red Sea targets, which have disrupted commercial shipping and prompted retaliatory strikes by the U.S., Israel, and the U.K. However, the Iran-aligned group warned that it would resume its offensive if Israel reneged on the ceasefire.
Meanwhile, Arab states are pressing Israel and the incoming Trump administration to empower the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) to oversee Gaza’s post-war reconstruction.
As the cabinet convenes to approve the long-awaited deal, Israelis and Palestinians alike hold their breath, hoping that this ceasefire agreement will mark a turning point in the devastating conflict and pave the way for a more stable and peaceful future.
