Israeli government approves cease-fire agreement in Gaza with Hamas | News about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

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The deal is due to come into force on Sunday and includes the exchange of prisoners in Gaza for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet has approved a cease-fire deal with Hamas in Gaza after more than 460 days of war in which Israeli forces have killed more than 46,788 Palestinians and wounded 110,453.

The agreementwhich was approved in the early hours of Saturday morning and is expected to take effect from Sunday, includes the exchange of prisoners in Gaza for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons, after which the terms of a permanent end to the war will be finalized.

With lingering divisions among ministers evident, Israel postponed key meetings of its security cabinet and cabinet, which were due to vote on Thursday, blaming Hamas for the hold-up.

Netanyahu’s office claimed that Hamas violated key parts of the agreement in order to win last-minute concessions. But senior Hamas official Izzat al-Risheq insisted the group remains committed to the ceasefire agreement.

Hamas said in a statement earlier on Friday that obstacles that had arisen over the terms of the Gaza ceasefire agreement had been resolved at dawn that day.

Netanyahu’s office said Hamas would begin releasing prisoners “as early as Sunday” provided the Israeli government approves the deal.

The ceasefire agreement was announced by mediators Qatar, Egypt and the United States on Wednesday. The agreement provides for a six-week initial ceasefire, the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from many areas of Gaza and an increase in humanitarian aid.

More to come…