The Israeli government has approved a ceasefire and hostage swap deal with Hamas, just days after the country marked two years since the October 7 massacre
Israel’s government has given the green light to a ceasefire and hostage exchange deal with Hamas, just days after marking two years since the tragic October 7 massacre.
The bombshell announcement came from Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration on Thursday, revealing that cabinet members had finally given their approval to the controversial agreement after a gruelling 734 days of conflict.
In a dramatic turn of events, the Israeli Prime Minister’s office confirmed: “The government has just now approved the framework for the release of all of the hostages – the living and the deceased.”, as reported by the Daily Mail. This development comes amidst Trump expressing scepticism over Hamas’s disarmament following the Gaza ceasefire.
Despite fierce opposition from national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, the decision was pushed through, reports the Express.
Ben-Gvir stated: “In conversations held between me and the prime minister in recent days, I made it clear that under no circumstances will I be part of a government that allows the continued existence of Hamas’s rule in Gaza.
“This is a glaring red line. The prime minister committed to me that this will be the case.”
The ceasefire will come into effect within 24 hours of the cabinet meeting, with Israeli troops also due to pull back from Gaza along a predetermined line.
The militant group will hand over the surviving and deceased Israeli hostages within 72 hours after that timeframe. Following their homecoming, Israel will release 250 Palestinians serving life sentences and 1,700 Gazans held since October 7.
The breakthrough came after Trump’s stunning announcement on Wednesday that Israel and Hamas had reached a deal on the initial phase of a ceasefire, after days of secret talks in Egypt.
Trump posted on Truth Social: “All of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace.”
Qatar, which helped broker the deal with Egypt and Turkey, called it the “first phase” of the Gaza ceasefire pact, which will lead to ending the conflict.
In Britain, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer hailed the breakthrough as a “moment of profound relief that will be felt around the world”.
The Trump-negotiated deal will see Hamas release all surviving hostages, both alive and dead, in exchange for roughly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Meanwhile, Israeli forces will begin withdrawing from vast areas of Gaza.
Heartfelt call with hostage families The night before, the American president spoke with families of those held captive by the terror group during a phone call involving Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
With Trump on loudspeaker, Lutnick prompted the relatives: “You have the best crowd in the world, what do you have to say to President Trump?” Around a dozen voices chorused back: “Thank you!”.
“Thank you very much everybody,” Trump replied, whilst one family member shouted: “You did it!”.
Some 48 hostages are still being held in Gaza, with 20 believed to remain alive. The American president stated he anticipated that all the hostages – including those who have died – would be “coming back” on Monday.
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