Israel’s security cabinet was scheduled to meet on Friday to finalize a ceasefire and hostage release deal concerning the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office indicated that the United States is “confident” the truce will commence as planned this weekend.
If approved, the ceasefire agreement is set to take effect on Sunday. It involves the exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, following which further terms for a permanent resolution of the conflict will be negotiated.
Meanwhile, Israeli strikes in Gaza resulted in the deaths of dozens of individuals, according to local rescuers. The Israeli military reported hitting approximately 50 targets across the territory over a single day. Netanyahu’s office accused Hamas of attempting to undermine the agreement for last-minute concessions, a claim that Hamas has denied. Early Friday, Netanyahu’s office announced that a “deal to release the hostages” had been reached, prompting a meeting of the political-security cabinet later that day.
Notably, at least two cabinet members expressed their opposition to the ceasefire. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir indicated that he and his party members would resign from the government if the “irresponsible” deal was approved. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich referred to the truce as a “dangerous deal.” In contrast, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who has been involved in mediation efforts, expressed confidence that the ceasefire would proceed on schedule.
Gaza’s civil defense agency reported that Israeli strikes intensified after the announcement of the deal on Wednesday. At least 80 individuals were killed and hundreds were injured during this period. Hamas’s armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, warned that ongoing Israeli attacks could endanger the lives of hostages slated for release.
The current conflict was sparked by a Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in 1,210 fatalities, primarily among civilians, as reported by AFP. The attack is noted as the deadliest in Israeli history, with 251 individuals taken hostage, 94 of whom remain in captivity in Gaza. Claims from the health ministry in Gaza indicate that Israel’s military campaign has led to the deaths of 46,788 individuals, predominantly civilians.
The ceasefire agreement emerged from intensified negotiations involving Qatar, Egypt, and the U.S., concluding months of unsuccessful dialogues aimed at ending the war. If confirmed, this agreement would pause hostilities just one day before the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. Senior officials from both the Trump transition team and the Biden administration participated in the recent negotiations, which a Biden official noted was a crucial element in reaching this deal.
Celebrations erupted in both Israel and Gaza upon the announcement of the truce deal, though emotional turmoil remained. Saeed Alloush, a resident of northern Gaza, expressed initial happiness about the truce but described deep sorrow after learning of the overnight deaths of many relatives due to strikes. In Tel Aviv, pensioner Simon Patya voiced mixed feelings, expressing joy for the returning hostages, alongside sadness for those who would not return alive.
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, who announced the agreement, stated that it entails a 42-day ceasefire, during which 33 hostages will be released. This first phase would also involve Israeli forces withdrawing from densely populated areas in Gaza and allowing displaced Palestinians to return to their homes.
President Biden indicated that the second phase of the agreement could yield a permanent conclusion to the war, enhancing humanitarian assistance for Palestinian civilians and facilitating the reunification of families with their loved ones. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi emphasized the need to expedite humanitarian aid into Gaza and offered Egypt as a venue for an international reconstruction conference, acknowledging the extensive time it would take to rebuild.
Rik Peeperkorn, the WHO representative in the Palestinian territories, noted that over the next five to seven years, roughly $10 billion may be required to restore Gaza’s devastated health system. Additionally, the UN Palestinian refugee agency, UNRWA, which faces an Israeli ban on its activities, welcomed the ceasefire deal, highlighting the urgent need for rapid humanitarian access and supplies amidst the severe humanitarian crisis caused by the war.
