In a significant development, Israel's Cabinet has officially approved an agreement that aims to halt the ongoing war in Gaza and facilitate the release of remaining hostages. This pivotal agreement outlines a framework that includes an initial withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, alongside the release of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
Under the terms of the agreement, twenty Israeli hostages, who have been held captive for two years, are set to be freed. Additionally, the remains of 28 deceased hostages will also be returned. The agreement was signed by representatives from Israel, Hamas, and mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey on Thursday. However, it required the formal approval of Israel's Cabinet to move forward.
During the Cabinet meeting, five ministers from the ultranationalist factions, including Religious Zionism and Jewish Power, voted against the agreement. Notably, former President Trump's envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, were present at the meeting alongside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
With the Cabinet's approval, the ceasefire in Gaza is set to take effect immediately. Within 24 hours, the Israeli military is required to withdraw its forces to a predetermined perimeter within Gaza, a process expected to conclude by Friday. Furthermore, the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt will be reopened in both directions, initially managed by a joint Egyptian-European force.
Within 72 hours following the reopening of the Rafah crossing, Hamas is obligated to release all remaining hostages, a process anticipated to be completed by Monday. In exchange for the bodies of the 28 deceased hostages, Israel has agreed to return the remains of 360 Palestinians who lost their lives during the conflict.
As part of the agreement, Israel will also release 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences for offenses related to the killing of Israelis. These individuals will either be sent to Gaza or granted exile in Arab and Muslim countries. Additionally, Israel will release 1,700 Palestinians detained by the Israel Defense Forces following Hamas' attack on October 7, 2023.
Despite the progress, there are lingering tensions. Hamas has claimed it requires additional time to locate the bodies of all deceased hostages, a statement Israeli officials refute as misleading. According to the agreement, a collaborative task force involving Israel, the U.S., Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey will be established to assist in locating the bodies that Hamas states are unaccounted for. Notably, Israel has declined to release several high-profile Palestinian prisoners, such as Marwan Barghouti, who is considered a symbol by Hamas.
In a speech on Thursday, Hamas' chief negotiator, Khalil al-Hayya, declared that the war in Gaza has officially ended, emphasizing that a permanent ceasefire is now in effect. He reassured that guarantees from the U.S. and mediators from Qatar, Turkey, and Egypt confirm the cessation of hostilities, stating there will be no unilateral resumption by Israel.
Looking ahead, Witkoff and Kushner met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo, where Sisi extended an invitation to President Trump to visit in the coming days for a signing ceremony related to the agreement. Trump has indicated his intention to travel to the Middle East, with plans to visit Egypt and Israel, where he is likely to address the Israeli parliament, the Knesset.
For ongoing updates, we will continue to monitor developments surrounding the Gaza ceasefire and the implications of this historic agreement.
