Israeli government approves ceasefire-hostage agreement with Hamas
The Israeli government on Saturday approved a ceasefire and hostage release agreement with Hamas. According to a Times of Israel report, the cabinet approved the deal by a vote of 24-8. The deal will take effect on Sunday. The agreement will begin the first phase of a ceasefire in Gaza and facilitate the release of both Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners.
Families of 33 Israeli hostages informed
On Friday, the Israeli Security Cabinet approved the hostage release-ceasefire agreement with Hamas and recommended the government to adopt it. The Israeli government’s Hostages and Missing Persons Coordination Unit on Friday informed the families of 33 Israeli hostages who are expected to be freed in the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement.
116 people killed in Israeli attack on Gaza
The Gaza war had strained Israel’s relations with Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen for the past 15 months. So far, about 47 thousand people have been killed in the Gaza war. 116 people were killed in Israel’s attack on Gaza on Friday during the final round of discussions on the agreement.
Among the dead are 60 women and children. Under the agreement, Hamas will release 33 hostages in the first phase of six weeks. These will include all women, children and people above 50 years of age. Whereas Israel will release Palestinian women, children and youth below 19 years of age.
The number of Palestinians to be released will depend on the number of hostages to be released. The number of Palestinians to be released can be between 990 and 1,650. This agreement is of three phases. Hamas said on Friday, all obstacles in the way of ceasefire in Gaza have been removed. Hamas has already accepted this agreement.
