Israel's security cabinet met on Friday to vote on a ceasefire after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that an agreement had been reached to temporarily halt the 15-month war with Hamas in Gaza and free dozens of hostages held by the militants there.
Mediators Qatar and the US announced a ceasefire on Wednesday, but the deal lasted more than a day as Netanyahu insisted there were last-minute hiccups that he blamed on Hamas.
The military has insisted that it is “committed” to the deal, while Gaza residents and the families of the hostages are waiting to see if it will come to fruition.
If the Cabinet approves it, the agreement will then go to the government for its final signature. Both factions are expected to agree to a ceasefire, which is likely to start on Sunday, despite the difficulties of Netanyahu's coalition partners. However, their opposition may disrupt his government.
Hamas began the conflict with its attack on Oct. 7, 2023, crossed the border into Israel killing about 1,200 people and leaving about 250 more hostages.
Israel responded with an offensive that killed more than 46,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, who did not distinguish between civilians and militants but said women and children accounted for more than half of those killed.
Besides the death and destruction in Gaza, the conflict has also shaken the Middle East and sparked protests around the world.
On Thursday, Israeli strikes killed at least 72 people in Gaza. In previous conflicts, both sides have stepped up military operations in the final hours before a cease-fire as a means of exerting force.
Netanyahu ordered a special team to prepare to receive the hostages returning from Gaza, and said that their families were informed of the agreement that had been reached. The Prime Minister's Office said that if the deal goes through, it could start on Sunday and the first hostages could be released then.
Under the deal, 33 of the 100 remaining hostages in Gaza are expected to be released within six weeks in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians held by Israel. Israeli forces will withdraw from many areas, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians will be able to return to the remaining areas of their homes, and there will be an increase in humanitarian aid.
Get the latest country news
For news that affects Canada and the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you as they happen.
The rest of the hostages, including the male soldiers, will be released in a second – and more difficult – phase that will be negotiated at the first time.
Hamas has said it will not release the remaining prisoners without a permanent disarmament and a complete withdrawal of Israel, while Israel has vowed to continue fighting until it disbands the group and to maintain security control in the area.
Jaher Jabareen, the head of Hamas's prison office, said on Friday that the names of those expected to be released from Israeli prisons would be published, but did not say when.
Long-term questions about post-conflict Gaza remain, including who will govern the area or oversee the difficult task of reconstruction.
An Egyptian official and a Hamas official have confirmed that last-minute problems regarding the list of Palestinian prisoners to be released from Israeli prisons during the first phase of the deal have now been resolved. Both officials spoke on the condition of being reserved to discuss private negotiations. A Hamas official said the arbitrators showed the group's approval of Israel.
The Egyptian official added that an Israeli delegation from the military and Israel's Shin Bet internal security agency arrived in Cairo on Friday to discuss the reopening of the Rafah crossing, a key link between the Gaza Strip and Egypt. An Israeli official who also did not want his name to be disclosed in order to discuss these discussions confirmed that the delegation will go to Cairo to discuss this matter.
Opposition to the covenant in Israel
On Thursday, Israel's national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, threatened to resign from the government if Israel agreed to a ceasefire. He emphasized that on Friday, writing on X's social media platform: “If the 'agreement' passes, we will leave the government with a heavy heart.”
Ben-Gvir's resignation will not bring down the government or derail the ceasefire agreement, but the move will weaken the government at a critical time and could eventually lead to its collapse if Ben-Gvir is joined by other key Netanyahu allies.
Magdy reported from Cairo, Egypt
© 2025 The Canadian Press
