Israeli Government Approves Gaza Ceasefire and Hostage Release Agreement

The Israeli government has approved a ceasefire agreement with Hamas, which includes the release of three hostages on Sunday. The decision followed an extensive seven-hour meeting, with the Security Cabinet and the government voting in favor of the deal. According to a leading News paper, the Prime Minister’s Office confirmed the agreement in a statement issued shortly after 1 p.m. on Saturday. The vote saw 24 ministers supporting the deal, while eight opposed it.

As part of the agreement, 33 Israeli hostages are to be released in a phased manner over 42 days. In exchange, Israel will release hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned in its jails. Among those opposing the deal were several high-profile ministers, including David Amsalem and Amichai Chikli from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party. Communications Minister Shlomo Karahi was notably absent from the vote.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, along with cabinet members from his ultra-nationalist Otzma Yehudit Party, also voted against the agreement. Similarly, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and two members of his Religious Zionism Party opposed the deal.

The ceasefire agreement follows intense violence since Hamas launched a large-scale attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. The assault resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people in Israel and the abduction of 251 hostages taken to Gaza. The attack was met with a massive Israeli military response, during which the Hamas-run Health Ministry reported over 46,800 Palestinian casualties in Gaza.

The agreement aims to address the ongoing crisis, with the release of the first three hostages signaling a potential de-escalation. However, the divided opinions among Israeli ministers highlight the contentious nature of the deal amidst continued tensions in the region.