The Israeli Cabinet has approved a Gaza freeze and hostage agreement

The Israeli government has approved a new ceasefire agreement between Gaza and Hamas, paving the way for it to come into force on Sunday.

The decision came after hours of discussions that continued late into the night. Two loyal ministers voted against this agreement.

Earlier, the security cabinet recommended that the agreement be accepted, saying that it “supports the achievement of the military objectives”, according to the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The terms of the agreement will officially come into force at 08:30 local time (06:30 GMT) on Sunday, Qatari mediators announced.

Under the deal, 33 Israeli hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza after 15 months of conflict will be exchanged for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails in the first phase lasting six weeks.

Israeli forces will also withdraw from enclaves in Gaza, displaced Palestinians will be allowed to begin returning to their homes and hundreds of aid trucks will be allowed to enter the area each day.

The second phase of talks – which should include the release of the remaining hostages, the full withdrawal of Israeli forces and the “restoration of sustainable calm” – will begin on the 16th.

The third and final phase will involve the reconstruction of Gaza – something that could take years – and the return of any remaining bodies of hostages.

Qatar said the hostages to be released in the first phase would include “female soldiers, female soldiers, children, the elderly, and sick and injured civilians”.

Israel says three hostages are expected to be released on the first day of the ceasefire, with other small groups released periodically over the next six weeks.

The Israeli military launched an operation to destroy Hamas – which is declared a terrorist organization by Israel, the US and others – in response to an unprecedented attack on the border on October 7, 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 were captured. .

More than 46,870 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in the area. Most of the 2.3 million people have also been displaced, there is widespread destruction, and there are severe shortages of food, fuel, medicine and shelter as a result of the struggle to get aid to those who need it.

Israel says 94 hostages are still being held by Hamas, 34 of whom are believed to have died. In addition, there are four Israelis who were captured before the war, two of whom died.

Before the Israeli government's vote on the deal, Culture Minister Miki Zohar of Netanyahu's Likud party said: “It is a very difficult decision, but we have decided to support it because it is very important for us to see all our children, men and women come back.” at home.”

“We hope that in the future we will be able to complete the work in Gaza,” he added.

But National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said he was “shocked” by the details of the deal, including that “terrorists sentenced to life in prison” would be released in exchange for hostages, and urged other ministers to join him in the vote. against it.

On Thursday, Ben-Gvir announced that his Jewish Power party would leave the ruling coalition if the deal is approved. But he said he would not bring down the government in parliament and would return “if the war against Hamas resumes in full force.”

The Minister of Finance, Bezalel Smotrich, one of the political opponents of this agreement, said that his Religious Zionism group will stop if the war does not start again after the end of the first phase.

The creation of three divisions has also created division and anxiety among some of the kidnappers' families. They fear that their relatives will be left behind in Gaza after the first phase is completed and they are urging the government to ensure that the second and third phases are implemented.

“It has been 469 days since our loved ones were abandoned in captivity, and now, finally, there is hope,” said Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan, 25, was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz.

“This agreement must be followed to the end, to bring everyone home and end the war. Ending the war, bringing everyone back and returning to normal is in Israel's interest.”

A government vote was expected on Thursday, but the meeting was delayed after Netanyahu accused Hamas of withdrawing from parts of the deal – allegations that Hamas has denied.

On Friday, the prime minister's office announced that Israel's negotiating team in Doha had concluded an agreement.

Hamas also issued a statement saying “obstacles” that arose regarding the terms of the deal had been resolved this morning.

A source close to Hamas told AFP that the first three hostages to be released would be women.

On Friday, the Ministry of Justice in Israel published a list of 95 Palestinian prisoners who it said would be part of the first group to be released in exchange for prisoners. They include 69 women, 16 men and 10 children, according to AFP.

On Friday there was also a meeting in Cairo to discuss ways to implement the agreement, a senior Egyptian official told the BBC.

All necessary arrangements were agreed, including the creation of a joint working room to ensure compliance, which will include representatives of Egypt, Qatar, the US, Palestinians and Israelis, the official said.

Al-Qahera News TV under the Egyptian government also quoted a source who said they had agreed that 600 aid trucks would enter the country during the ceasefire.

That would require a 14-fold increase from the UN-reported daily average of 43 trucks. But Rik Peeperkorn, the World Health Organization's representative in Gaza, said there are “very many possibilities” if the Rafah crossing with Egypt and other crossings are opened.

The WHO also plans to bring in more hospitals to support the devastated health care sector. Half of Gaza's 36 hospitals are not working, while others are working slowly.

There has been no respite for Palestinians on the ground in Gaza since the ceasefire agreement was announced on Wednesday night.

The Gaza-based Hamas Civil Defense said 117 Palestinians, including 32 women and 30 children, had been killed in Israeli strikes since then.

Tamer Abu Shaaban said his young nephew was killed by rockets while playing in the school yard in Gaza City where his family was sheltered.

“Is this the peace they are talking about?” he told Reuters news agency while standing next to his body in the cold. “What did this little girl do to deserve this?”

The Israeli army said on Thursday afternoon that it had carried out strikes on 50 “terrorist positions” across Gaza in the past day and had taken measures to minimize casualties.