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Israel’s security cabinet was scheduled to convene on Friday, following the finalization of crucial details surrounding a ceasefire agreement and the release of hostages in Gaza, according to a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.
The announcement came as the United States expressed confidence that the truce would commence as outlined, with expectations that the ceasefire would take effect over the weekend, marking a significant step toward de-escalation in the region.
If ratified by Israel’s cabinet, the ceasefire agreement is set to take effect on Sunday, marking the start of an exchange process where Israeli hostages will be swapped for Palestinian prisoners. This tentative truce is seen as a precursor to broader negotiations, which, once concluded, will outline the terms for a permanent resolution to the ongoing conflict.
While international diplomacy makes strides, the violence in Gaza rages on. On Thursday, rescue teams in the region confirmed that Israeli airstrikes had resulted in the deaths of dozens. Simultaneously, Israel’s military reported that it had struck around 50 targets across Gaza, underscoring the persistent and deadly scale of the air campaign.
In a statement on Thursday, Netanyahu’s office charged Hamas with attempting to extract last-minute concessions by reneging on key portions of the agreement. Hamas responded by categorically denying the accusation, insisting it had adhered to the terms set out.
Netanyahu’s office issued a statement early on Friday, announcing that a deal had been struck for the release of hostages. Following this breakthrough, the Prime Minister directed the political-security cabinet to gather later that day to address the details and make further decisions.
“The government will then convene to approve the deal,” it added.
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At least two cabinet members have voiced opposition to the ceasefire, with far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir saying that he and his party colleagues would quit the government — but not the ruling coalition — if it approved the “irresponsible” deal.
Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich also opposes the truce, calling it a “dangerous deal”.
But US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who has been involved in months of mediation efforts, said Thursday he believed the ceasefire would go ahead on schedule.
“I am confident, and I fully expect that implementation will begin, as we said, on Sunday,” he said.
Gaza’s civil defence agency said Israel pounded several areas of the territory after the deal was announced on Wednesday, killing at least 80 people and wounding hundreds since then.
Hamas’s armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, warned that Israeli strikes were risking the lives of hostages due to be freed under the deal, and could turn their “freedom… into a tragedy”.
The war was triggered by the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,210 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official Israeli figures.
During the attack, the deadliest in Israeli history, Palestinian militants also took 251 people hostage, 94 of whom are still being held in Gaza, including 34 the Israeli military says are dead.
Israel’s ensuing campaign has destroyed much of Gaza, killing 46,788 people, most of them civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry that the UN considers reliable.
