On Friday, Israel’s security Cabinet met to talk about a ceasefire agreement after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said they had reached a deal. This deal would pause the war with Hamas in Gaza, which has been going on for 15 months, and set up the release of hostages held by militants. The agreement, announced by Qatar and the U.S. on Wednesday, faced delays because Netanyahu mentioned some last-minute issues he blamed on Hamas.
Hamas claimed they wanted to stick to the deal, while families of hostages and residents of Gaza were anxiously waiting to see if it would happen. If the Cabinet agrees, the deal would go to the whole government for final approval, which is expected. However, Netanyahu’s far-right coalition partners are strongly against the ceasefire, possibly putting his government at risk.
The war started when Hamas launched a major attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people and capturing around 250 more. In response, Israel launched a major attack that has resulted in over 46,000 deaths in Gaza, where many victims are reported to be women and children. This ongoing war is causing chaos across the Middle East and has led to protests around the world.
Just this past Thursday, Israeli airstrikes killed at least 72 people in Gaza. In past ceasefires, both sides have intensified military actions just before an agreement to show strength.
Netanyahu has told a special team to prepare for the return of hostages, and families have been informed of the deal. If all goes well, the ceasefire and the first releases of hostages could begin as early as Sunday. The agreement involves releasing 33 hostages over six weeks in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians held in Israeli jails. During this time, Israeli forces will pull back, some Palestinians can return home, and humanitarian aid will increase.
However, Hamas says they won’t release the other hostages, especially male soldiers, unless there is a lasting ceasefire and a total Israeli withdrawal. Israel has promised to keep fighting until Hamas is dismantled. Discussions continue about who will run Gaza postwar and who will manage rebuilding efforts.
There were last-minute problems regarding which Palestinian prisoners would be freed first, but these issues have been resolved. Also, an Israeli team visited Cairo on Friday to discuss reopening a vital border crossing between Gaza and Egypt.
Inside Israel, Itamar Ben-Gvir, a hard-line security minister, has threatened to leave the government if the ceasefire is approved. He posted on social media, saying if the deal goes through, he would exit the government despite feeling sad about it. Although his resignation wouldn’t lead to an immediate government collapse, it could weaken Netanyahu’s coalition during a crucial time.
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