The ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas would pause the fighting in Gaza and ensure the release of dozens of Israeli hostages being kept in Hamas’s custody.
A deal between Israel and Hamas to release hostages being held in Gaza and start a ceasefire was officially signed by negotiators in Doha, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday. The deal was signed hours after the Israeli Prime Minister said that a last-minute dispute with Hamas was holding up Israel’s approval of the ceasefire agreement.
In a statement, the Israeli PM further announced that he would convene his security cabinet later in the day and then the government would approve the ceasefire deal, that would pause the fighting in Gaza and release dozens of Israeli hostages
Amid the ongoing negotiations on Thursday, the Israeli airstrikes killed at least 72 people in war-ravaged Gaza.
The ceasefire agreement has drawn fierce resistance from Netanyahu’s far-right coalition partners, which the Israeli Prime Minister depends on to remain in power. Earlier on Thursday, Israel’s national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, threatened to quit the government if Israel approved the ceasefire. There was no immediate comment from Ben-Gvir following Netanyahu’s statement about the ceasefire deal.
CEASEFIRE DEAL TO PAUSE WAR IN GAZA
The deal announced by the Israeli PM would pause the fighting in Gaza, pausing a 15-month war that has destabilized the Middle East and sparked worldwide protests.
Hamas triggered the war with its October 7, 2023, cross-border attack into Israel that killed some 1,200 people and took 250 others hostage.
Israel responded with a devastating offensive that has killed over 46,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, who do not distinguish between civilians and militants but say women and children make up more than half of those killed.