Israel’s cabinet has approved a ceasefire agreement with the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which is set to take effect on Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed on Saturday. The deal also includes the release of hostages in the Gaza Strip.
Following a six-hour cabinet meeting early on Saturday, the Israeli government ratified the agreement aimed at ending the 15-month-long conflict in Gaza, which is under Hamas control.
“The government has approved the framework for the return of the hostages. The framework for the hostages’ release will come into effect on Sunday,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes continued in Gaza despite the ceasefire deal. Medics reported that an airstrike on Saturday killed five people in a tent in the Mawasi area west of Khan Younis. The total death toll from Israeli strikes since the deal’s announcement on Wednesday has risen to 119, according to Gaza medics.
After the cabinet’s decision, U.S. lead negotiator Brett McGurk stated that the plan remains on track. The White House expects the ceasefire to begin Sunday morning, with three female hostages to be released to Israel by the Red Cross later that day.
“We have locked down every single detail in this agreement. We are confident it is ready to be implemented on Sunday,” McGurk said during a CNN interview from the White House.
The agreement outlines a three-stage ceasefire, beginning with a six-week initial phase in which hostages held by Hamas will be exchanged for Palestinian prisoners detained by Israel. During this phase, 33 of the 98 Israeli hostages, including women, children, and men over 50, are set to be released. In return, Israel will free all Palestinian women and children under 19 currently held in Israeli jails. The names of 95 Palestinian prisoners scheduled for release on Sunday were published by Israel’s Justice Ministry on Friday.
Following Sunday’s hostage release, the deal specifies that four additional female hostages will be freed after seven days, followed by three more hostages every week thereafter.
Opposition Within the Israeli Cabinet
The deal faced strong opposition from hardliners in Netanyahu’s coalition government. Media reports indicated that 24 ministers voted in favor, while eight opposed it. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, an outspoken critic, threatened to resign if the agreement was approved but stated he would not bring down the government. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich also warned he might quit if Israel does not resume military operations against Hamas after the initial six-week ceasefire phase.
The ceasefire marks a potential turning point in the conflict, which escalated after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel that killed approximately 1,200 people and resulted in 250 hostages being taken. Israel’s military response devastated Gaza, killing over 46,000 people and displacing millions, according to local reports.
Broader Implications and Humanitarian Efforts
If successful, the ceasefire could help de-escalate broader regional hostilities, which have spread to include Iran-backed groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, Yemen’s Houthis, and armed factions in Iraq and the West Bank.
Gaza remains in the grip of a humanitarian crisis, with its population facing severe shortages of food, fuel, and medical supplies. International aid organizations, including the UNRWA, are preparing to deliver thousands of truckloads of humanitarian aid to alleviate suffering in the enclave. Palestinians, such as displaced resident Reeham Sheikh al-Eid, expressed hope for relief from their dire conditions.
“I hope it will happen so we can cook in our homes and make whatever food we want, without having to queue for hours at soup kitchens, sometimes without even getting enough to take home,” said Sheikh al-Eid.
