Israel’s government has approved a long-awaited hostage and ceasefire deal with Hamas, paving the way for its implementation on Sunday. The deal involves the exchange of dozens of Israeli hostages for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in the first phase. The ceasefire and hostage release are scheduled to commence at 8:30 a.m. local time, with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) preparing to receive the hostages and provide necessary support.
Three Israeli hostages are expected to be released on Sunday, with a total of 33 hostages set to be freed over a six-week period. Tel Aviv’s Sourasky Medical Center has made preparations to receive the released hostages. Additionally, 735 Palestinian prisoners will be freed during the same timeframe.
Under the agreement, 600 trucks of aid will be permitted to enter Gaza daily, a significant increase aimed at addressing the humanitarian crisis in the region. The United Nations has cautioned that more action is needed to alleviate the dire situation in Gaza, which has suffered from extensive damage due to prolonged conflict.
While the first phase of the deal is set to begin, details regarding subsequent phases remain uncertain. Negotiations for the second and third phases will commence after 16 days of the deal's implementation. Although the continuity of the ceasefire beyond the initial phase is not guaranteed, Israel has expressed its commitment to bringing all hostages home and engaging in good-faith negotiations for further stages, potentially leading to a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
The deal has stirred controversy within Israel’s government, with far-right national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir threatening to resign over the agreement. Despite internal tensions, the approval of the deal marks a significant step towards easing hostilities and addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
