Israeli cabinet approves Gaza ceasefire, hostage deal with Hamas

JERUSALEM,— Israel’s cabinet has approved a ceasefire agreement with the extremist Islamist group Hamas, clearing the way for an end to hostilities in Gaza within a day and the release of Israeli hostages in the following three days, officials said Friday.

Government ministers voted early Friday to endorse the deal, one day after mediators announced an arrangement aimed at halting the two-year conflict.

The plan includes exchanging Israeli captives for Palestinian criminal prisoners and gradually withdrawing Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip. The framework was developed under U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace initiative.

“The government has just approved the framework for the release of all hostages, both living and deceased,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated in a message on his official English-language X account.

The war, now in its second year, has left Israel increasingly isolated and intensified regional tensions involving Iran, Yemen, and Lebanon. It has also strained U.S.-Israeli relations, with President Trump urging Netanyahu to agree to terms that would bring the fighting to an end.

Following Thursday’s announcement, residents in both Israel and Gaza celebrated what could be the most significant step toward ending a war that has claimed more than 67,000 lives in Gaza and left thousands displaced.

The conflict began after Hamas-led gunmen attacked Israeli towns and a music festival on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people, most of them civilians, including women and children, and seizing 251 hostages.

Khalil Al-Hayya, a senior Hamas official in exile, said Hamas had received assurances from the United States and other mediators confirming that the war was effectively over.

An Israeli government spokesman said the ceasefire would take effect within 24 hours of cabinet approval. Under the deal, the hostages still held in Gaza are expected to be freed within 72 hours of the truce.

According to Israeli officials, 20 hostages are believed to be alive, 26 are presumed dead, and the fate of two remains unknown. Hamas has suggested that recovering the bodies of those killed may take more time.

Once the truce begins, aid convoys carrying food and medical supplies are expected to enter Gaza in large numbers. Thousands of displaced residents have been living in makeshift shelters after Israeli forces demolished vast areas during the campaign.

The agreement, if carried out in full, would bring both parties closer to ending the conflict than any previous negotiations. However, uncertainties remain.

A Palestinian source said the final list of prisoners to be released is still under discussion. Hamas has demanded freedom for prominent political prisoners and others detained during the recent Israeli offensive.

Future steps under Trump’s 20-point plan are still pending, including determining Gaza’s post-war administration and the status of Hamas, which continues to reject Israel’s demand for disarmament.

Within Israel, Netanyahu faces resistance from hardline members of his coalition who oppose any negotiations with Hamas. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir warned he would push to dissolve the government if Hamas is not dismantled.

Despite political divisions, many welcomed news of the ceasefire. “Thank God for the end of bloodshed,” said Abdul Majeed Abd Rabbo in Khan Younis. “All of Gaza is happy. The Arab world and everyone around the world are relieved.”

In Tel Aviv, families gathered at Hostages Square to celebrate. Einav Zaugauker, whose son Matan remains captive, expressed disbelief. “I can’t breathe. It’s incredible,” she said.

President Trump said he plans to travel to the region on Sunday for a possible signing ceremony in Egypt. Israeli Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana has invited him to address parliament, which would mark the first speech by a U.S. president there since 2008.

The deal has received backing from both Arab and Western governments and is viewed as a diplomatic breakthrough for Trump, who has faced challenges fulfilling pledges to end the Gaza conflict and the war in Ukraine.

Representatives from Western and Arab countries met in Paris to discuss international peacekeeping and reconstruction plans for Gaza once the ceasefire holds.

Two senior U.S. officials said Washington will deploy 200 troops to join a multinational task force supporting Gaza’s stability, though no American soldiers will enter Gaza. The force will include participants from Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and possibly the United Arab Emirates.

More than 67,000 Gazans, most identified by Israel as Hamas fighters, have been killed in the campaign since October 2023.

(With files from Reuters)