Israeli Cabinet to Vote Friday on Gaza Ceasefire Starting Sunday, Involving 33 Hostages

Jan 16, 2025, 04:58 PM

The Israeli cabinet is set to convene on Friday to vote on a ceasefire and hostage exchange agreement with Hamas in Gaza, according to Israeli media reports. The agreement, announced by mediators Qatar, the United States, and Egypt, is expected to take effect on Sunday and includes three phases. The first phase, lasting six weeks, will initiate a ceasefire, the release of 33 hostages held by Hamas, and a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces from densely populated areas of Gaza. In exchange, Israel will release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. The agreement aims to halt the fighting that has lasted over 15 months, facilitate the return of displaced Palestinians to their homes, and increase humanitarian aid to the region. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused Hamas of attempting to renegotiate parts of the deal at the last minute, causing a delay in the cabinet's vote. Hamas has denied these accusations and reaffirmed its commitment to the ceasefire agreement.