Israeli cabinet approves Gaza ceasefire deal

Israel’s security cabinet approved a ceasefire and hostage release agreement that is to be implemented over this weekend. The deal aims at halting the continuing violence in Gaza, besides releasing hostages taken during the Hamas attack last October 2023. Now, the deal needs to be approved by Israel’s full cabinet. It involved mediation by Qatar, the United States, and Egypt, but it also provided for the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.

The war, sparked off by the Hamas attack, resulted in huge losses of life and heavy destruction of property. The campaign by Israel’s military has left most of Gaza in ruins, with reports of tens of thousands of civilian deaths. It is expected that hostages, including women and children, will be released in stages beginning on Sunday. Hamas warned that further airstrikes by Israel could undermine the deal.

The hostage crisis, finally over in Israel, has brought a mix of relief and anxiety as the families of their loved ones hold on to hope for their return. International figures such as U.S. President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron have voiced support for the deal, while Biden has insinuated the deal could offer a lasting resolution.

In the run-up to the ceasefire and exchanges of prisoners, technical discussions are held in Egypt. At the time of filing this report, the massive destruction and displacement of nearly all 2.4 million residents created an overwhelming task for the aid organizations operating in Gaza.