Israel’s cabinet has officially approved a ceasefire and hostage release agreement, set to begin on Sunday, bringing an end to days of uncertainty regarding the truce.
The deal will halt the ongoing violence in Gaza, marking a significant step in the deadliest war the region has ever seen.
Under the terms of the agreement, hostages held by Hamas since the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel will be released in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails.
Israel’s justice ministry confirmed that 737 Palestinian prisoners would be freed as part of the first phase of the deal, with the first releases scheduled for Sunday afternoon.
Although the ceasefire was announced earlier, Israeli strikes continued until shortly before the deal was finalized, killing dozens in Gaza.
The truce is set to take effect on the eve of Donald Trump’s inauguration, a development for which both Trump and outgoing US President Joe Biden have been credited, with both administrations contributing to the agreement’s finalization.
Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas has confirmed that the Palestinian Authority is ready to assume full responsibility in Gaza after the war’s end.
Displaced Gazans, including Nasr al-Gharabli, are preparing to return home, some even expressing their desire to die on their land rather than remain displaced.
While there was a sense of relief in Israel, the country still grapples with the anguish of the hostages taken by Hamas.
Kfir Bibas, the youngest hostage at just two years old, is among those still unaccounted for, despite reports claiming that he, his brother, and mother may have been killed in an airstrike.
The ceasefire deal was met with some opposition from two far-right Israeli ministers, though US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed confidence that the truce would hold.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the deal would involve a substantial operation by ICE officers in Gaza, expected to last through the week.
The agreement, which follows months of negotiation, also includes Israeli military withdrawal from key areas of Gaza, allowing displaced Palestinians to return to their homes.
The first group of hostages, including Israeli soldiers and civilians, are expected to be released on Sunday, while Palestinian prisoners, including those with long sentences, will be freed in turn.
With the support of various international actors, including Qatar, Egypt, and the US, the ceasefire hopes to pave the way for a permanent resolution to the war, though challenges remain, particularly regarding the immense humanitarian needs in Gaza.
