Israel Government Approves Gaza Hostage Release Deal
The Israel government has approved a Gaza hostage release deal, marking a significant step toward ending more than two years of conflict with Hamas. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed on Friday that the cabinet had “approved the framework for the release of all the hostages — both the living and the deceased.”
Framework for Peace and Ceasefire
The accord, reached in Egypt, comes as part of a broader 20-point peace plan for Gaza announced last month by US President Donald Trump. The first phase of the deal, already signed by all parties, includes a ceasefire and the release of hostages held in Gaza. Under the agreement, Israel’s military is expected to begin a gradual withdrawal within 24 hours of its approval.
Egypt is planning an official event to mark the conclusion of the deal, with Trump expected to attend before visiting Israel and Gaza. The arrangement also outlines future discussions on Hamas disarmament and a transitional authority for Gaza, a proposal that Hamas leaders have rejected.
Political Tensions in Israel
Despite the breakthrough, Netanyahu faced criticism from far-right members of his coalition. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir voted against the agreement, calling the planned release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for 47 Israeli hostages “an unbearable heavy price.”
Foreign Minister Gideon Saar expressed optimism that the release “should bring the end to this war,” while Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas hailed the agreement as “a historic moment,” hoping peace and stability would follow.
International Oversight and Deployment
A US-led military team of about 200 personnel, headed by US Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper, will oversee the truce in coordination with Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates. Washington has clarified that no US troops will enter Gaza directly.
US envoy Steve Witkoff and presidential adviser Jared Kushner met Israeli leaders in Jerusalem before the cabinet’s final vote.
Egypt brokered the deal during indirect negotiations in the Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh, and the agreement includes a plan to accelerate humanitarian aid deliveries into Gaza, where the UN has declared famine conditions.
Mixed Emotions on the Ground
News of the deal sparked jubilation across both Israel and Gaza. In Tel Aviv, thousands gathered waving Israeli and US flags, while in Gaza, residents described “tears of joy” after years of bombing and displacement.
Hamas has submitted a list of prisoners it seeks to have released, including 250 serving life sentences and 1,700 others detained since the conflict began.
Continuing Violence Amid Hope
The ceasefire announcement coincided with the second anniversary of the deadly October 7, 2023 Hamas attack that killed over 1,200 people in Israel. According to Gaza’s health ministry, Israel’s retaliatory campaign has killed more than 67,000 people, most of them women and children.
Despite the agreement, explosions and artillery fire were still reported in parts of southern and central Gaza late Thursday.
As Israel and Hamas prepare to enact the first phase of the deal, many hope it will finally bring a lasting end to one of the region’s longest and most devastating conflicts.
