Israel's government ratified a ceasefire agreement with the Palestinian militant group Hamas, marking a significant step towards halting hostilities in Gaza within 24 hours and securing the release of Israeli hostages within 72 hours thereafter.
The Israeli cabinet approved the deal early on Friday, roughly 24 hours after mediators announced an agreement to release Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. This agreement represents the first phase of a peace initiative spearheaded by U.S. President Donald Trump to end the two-year war in Gaza.
"The government has just approved the framework for the release of all hostages – both the living and the deceased," Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s English-language X account stated.
The ongoing conflict has severely isolated Israel internationally and destabilised the Middle East, escalating into a regional dispute involving Iran, Yemen, and Lebanon. It has also tested the relationship between the U.S. and Israel, with Trump growing increasingly frustrated with Netanyahu and pushing for a resolution.
Both Israelis and Palestinians celebrated the announcement of the deal, marking a major milestone towards ending the two-year war that has claimed more than 67,000 Palestinian lives according to the latest figures from the Health Ministry and the return of the hostages captured during Hamas’ initial deadly attacks.
Khalil Al-Hayya, the exiled leader of Hamas in Gaza, said that he had received assurances from the United States and other mediators that the war would come to an end.
An Israeli government spokesperson confirmed that the ceasefire would take effect within 24 hours of the deal's approval, and hostages would be released within 72 hours. Currently, 20 Israeli hostages are believed to be alive in Gaza, 26 are presumed dead, and two remain unaccounted for. Hamas has indicated that retrieving the bodies of the deceased might take longer than releasing the living hostages.
Under the agreement, hostilities will cease, Israel will partially withdraw from Gaza, and Hamas will release all remaining hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
Additionally, convoys of trucks carrying food and medical aid will be permitted to enter the Strip, offering relief to the many civilians who have been living in shelters after Israeli forces destroyed homes and entire cities.
Challenges Remain
While the agreement, if fully implemented, represents the closest either side has come to ending the war, obstacles still exist. Even after the deal was signed, a Palestinian source revealed that the list of prisoners to be released had not been finalised. Hamas is seeking the release of some of the most high-profile Palestinian convicts, as well as hundreds of detainees held by Israel during the assault.
Further stages of Trump’s 20-point peace plan remain to be discussed, including the governance of the devastated Gaza Strip after the fighting ends and the eventual fate of Hamas, which has refused Israel’s demand to disarm.
Netanyahu is also facing internal opposition from his right-wing coalition. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has stated that he would vote to bring down the government if Hamas is not dismantled. He also voiced his opposition to the deal, as did far-right members of the coalition, who have long opposed any agreement with Hamas. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich argued that Hamas must be eradicated once the hostages are released.
However, the announcement of a ceasefire and the return of hostages was met with widespread celebration.
'All of Gaza is happy'
"Thank God for the ceasefire, the end of bloodshed," said Abdul Majeed Abd Rabbo in Khan Younis, southern Gaza.
"The entire Gaza Strip is happy; all the Arab world and all the world are happy with the ceasefire and the end of bloodshed."
In Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, Einav Zaugauker, whose son Matan is one of the last remaining hostages, celebrated.
"I can’t breathe, I can’t explain what I’m feeling… it’s crazy," she said amidst the glow of celebratory flares.
While Israeli strikes continued in Gaza before the ceasefire officially took effect, fewer fatalities were reported than in recent weeks. Local health authorities reported seven deaths in two separate Israeli airstrikes.
Signs of Israeli troop withdrawal were evident on the ground. An eyewitness near the Nusseirat camp in central Gaza saw the Israeli army demolish an abandoned position and lower a surveillance crane. In the Netzarim corridor, Israeli forces fired smoke grenades, typically used to cover troop movements.
Trump heading to the region
President Trump announced plans to visit the region this Sunday (12 October) to potentially attend a signing ceremony in Egypt. Israeli Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana invited Trump to address the Knesset, marking the first speech by a U.S. president to the Israeli parliament since 2008. Trump expressed hope that the deal would lead to "an everlasting peace" in the region.
The deal has garnered support from both Arab and Western nations and is being hailed as a significant diplomatic success for Trump, positioning it as a first step toward broader reconciliation in the Middle East. Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner met with Netanyahu in Jerusalem before the Israeli cabinet ratified the deal.
The successful implementation of the ceasefire and hostages' release would represent a notable achievement for Trump, who has faced challenges in delivering on promises to resolve the Gaza conflict and the Russia-Ukraine crisis.
Western and Arab nations have convened in Paris to discuss potential international peacekeeping forces and reconstruction aid for Gaza once the fighting ceases.
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