Blitz Bureau
Israel’s Cabinet approved a deal with Palestinian militant group Hamas for a ceasefire and release of hostages in the Gaza Strip, that could pave the way for an end to the 15-month-old war.This was stated by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office on January 18, a day ahead of the agreement’s scheduled start.
“The Government has approved the framework for the return of the hostages. The framework for the hostages’ release will come into effect on Sunday (January 19),” Netanyahu’s office said in a brief statement.
After the Israeli Cabinet approval, lead U.S. negotiator Brett McGurk said the plan was moving forward on track. “We have locked down every single detail in this agreement. We are quite confident… it is ready to be implemented,” McGurk said on CNN from the White House.
Under the deal, the three-stage ceasefire starts with an initial six-week phase when hostages held by Hamas will be exchanged for prisoners detained by Israel.
Thirty-three of the 98 remaining Israeli hostages, including women, children, and men over 50, were due to be freed in this phase. Israel will release all Palestinian women and children under 19 in Israeli jails by the end of the first phase.
Three hostages released
Israel has released 90 Palestinian prisoners from its Ofer jail in West Bank region after three Israeli women hostages returned to their home country after Hamas handed them over to the International Committee of the Red Cross(ICRC), marking the first step in the Gaza ceasefire, Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) posted on X. This is first such exchange of hostages after a 15 month long war. Israel also said four other women hostages would be freed by the militant group in the coming seven days.
The names of 95 Palestinian prisoners to be released were announced by the Israeli Justice Ministry on January 17.
With the accord bitterly opposed by some Israeli Cabinet hardliners, media reports said 24 ministers in Netanyahu’s coalition government voted in favour of the deal while eight opposed it.
The opponents said the ceasefire agreement represented a capitulation to Hamas. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir threatened to resign if it was approved and urged other ministers to vote against it. However, he said he would not bring down the Government, according to Reuters.
