Israel’s the security cabinet on friday recommended the approval of a ceasefire agreement after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that an agreement had been reached to pause the 15-month conflict with Hamas in Gauze and release dozens of hostages held there by militants.
Mediators Qatar and the US announced a ceasefire on Wednesday, but the deal remained in limbo for more than a day as Netanyahu insisted there had been a last-minute hitch that he blamed on Hamas.
The militants claimed they were “committed” to the deal, while Gazans and the families of the hostages anxiously waited to see if it would materialize.
The agreement now goes to the full Cabinet of Ministers for final signing. He is expected to approve the truce, which could begin as early as Sunday, although it has drawn fierce opposition from Netanyahu’s far-right coalition partners. However, their objections could destabilize his government.
Hamas sparked the conflict with its cross-border attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed around 1,200 people and captured around 250.
Israel responded with a devastating offensive that killed more than 46,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, who do not distinguish between civilians and militants, but say women and children make up more than half of those killed.
In addition to the death and destruction in Gaza, the conflict has also destabilized the Middle East and sparked protests around the world.
On Thursday, Israeli strikes killed at least 72 people in Gaza. In previous conflicts, both sides have stepped up military operations in the final hours before a ceasefire as a way of projecting power.
What’s next after Israel, Hamas agree to Gaza cease-fire deal and hostages?
Netanyahu instructed a special task force to prepare to receive the hostages returning from Gaza and said their families had been informed that a deal had been reached. The Prime Minister’s Office said that if the deal goes through, the ceasefire could begin on Sunday and then the first hostages could be released.
Under the deal, 33 of the roughly 100 hostages remaining in Gaza will be released over six weeks in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians jailed by Israel. Israeli forces will withdraw from many areas, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians will be able to return to what remains of their homes, and humanitarian aid will increase.
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The rest of the hostages, including male soldiers, will be released in a second — and much more difficult — phase that will be negotiated during the first.
Hamas has said it will not release the remaining prisoners without a permanent ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal, while Israel has vowed to continue fighting until it disbands the group and to maintain open security control over the territory.
More than 70 killed in Gaza as ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas collapses
Jaher Jabareen, the head of Hamas’ office responsible for prisoners, said on Friday that the names of those expected to be released from Israeli prisons would be released, but did not say when.
Longer-term questions remain about post-conflict Gaza, including who will rule the territory or oversee the daunting task of reconstruction.
An Egyptian official and a Hamas official confirmed that there were last-minute problems over the list of Palestinian prisoners to be released from Israeli jails during the first phase of the deal, but that they have now been resolved. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private negotiations. A Hamas official said the mediators showed Israeli approval of the group.
The Egyptian official added that an Israeli delegation from the military and Israel’s Shin Bet internal security agency arrived in Cairo on Friday to discuss reopening the Rafah crossing, a key link between the Gaza Strip and Egypt. An Israeli official who also spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the negotiations confirmed that a delegation was going to Cairo to discuss the transition.
Remarks on the agreement in Israel
On Thursday, Israel’s hard-line national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, threatened to quit the government if Israel approved a ceasefire. He reiterated this on Friday, writing on social media platform X: “If the ‘deal’ goes through, we will leave the government with heavy hearts.”
Ben-Gvir’s resignation would not topple the government or derail the ceasefire agreement, but the move would destabilize the government at a delicate moment and could eventually lead to its downfall if Ben-Gvir is joined by other key Netanyahu allies.
Magdy reported from Cairo, Egypt
© 2025 The Canadian Press
