
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the ceasefire and hostage release deal with Hamas on Friday. The announcement comes a day after the Israeli cabinet delayed approval for the deal reached on Wednesday, amid protests from several ministers.
Confirming that a deal has been reached for the return of Israeli hostages held in Gaza, Netanyahu informed that he would convene the security Cabinet later on Friday to approve the long-awaited agreement.
Israel initially delayed a vote on the ceasefire deal on Thursday, accusing Palestinian militant group Hamas of reneging on parts of the agreement in an attempt to gain further concessions — without specifying which parts.
In a briefing on Thursday, David Mencer, an Israeli government spokesman, said Hamas' new demands dealt with the deployment of Israeli forces in the Philadelphi corridor, the narrow strip bordering Egypt that Israeli troops seized in May.
Hamas denied the claims, with Izzat al-Rishq, a senior Hamas official, saying the militant group "is committed to the ceasefire agreement, which was announced by the mediators."
The ceasefire agreement has drawn fierce resistance from Netanyahu's far-right coalition partners, on whose support the Israeli prime minister depends to remain in power. On Thursday, Israel's hardline national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, threatened to quit the government if Israel approves the ceasefire.
Israeli airstrikes, meanwhile, killed at least 87 Palestinians including 21 children and 25 women, since the announcement of the ceasfire deal on Wednesday, reported Al Jazeera.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty called on Israel and Hamas to implement a Gaza ceasefire plan "without any delay" in an exclusive interview Thursday with The Associated Press. Egypt has been a key mediator between the enemies for years and a leading player in ongoing ceasefire negotiations.
The deal announced Wednesday would see a pause in the attacks with a view to permanently end Israel's 15-month-long "genocidal" war on Gaza, which has destabilized the Middle East and sparked worldwide protests. It will also see the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.
Around 250 Israelis were taken hostage by Hamas in a cross-border attack into Israel that killed some 1,200 people on October 7, 2023.
Israel's relentless attacks on Gaza since then has killed atleast 46,707 Palestinians including more than 18000 children, over 200 journalists and at least a thousand healthcare workers. Israel's war on Gaza, termed by many including UN experts as a "genocide" has pushed about 90% of Gaza's population of 2.3 million from their homes. Hundreds of thousands are struggling with hunger and disease in squalid tent camps on the coast, amid Israel's continuous blockade of humanitarian aid into the territory.
A phased withdrawal and hostage release with potential pitfalls
Under the deal reached Wednesday, 33 of some 100 hostages who remain in Gaza are set to be released over the next six weeks in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Israeli forces will pull back from many areas, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians would be able to return to what's left of their homes, and there would be a surge of humanitarian assistance.
The remainder of the hostages, including male soldiers, are to be released in a second phase that will be negotiated during the first. Hamas has said it will not release the remaining captives without a lasting ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal, while Israel has vowed to keep fighting until it dismantles the group to maintain open-ended control over the territory.
Netanyahu faces heavy internal pressure
The Israeli prime minister faces great domestic pressure to bring home the hostages, whose families have pleaded with Netanyahu to prioritize the release of their loved ones over politics.
But Israeli divisions over the deal were on stark display Thursday, as Ben-Gvir, a key government coalition partner and Cabinet member, threatened to resign, saying the ceasefire was "reckless" and would "destroy all of Israel's achievements."
The departure of Ben-Gvir's Jewish Power party would reduce the number of the ruling coalition's seats in the Israeli parliament, or Knesset, from 68 to 62 — leaving Netanyahu's government with just the slimmest of majorities. Ben-Gvir said his party would return to the coalition if Israel resumes its war.
Ben-Gvir's resignation would not bring down the government or derail the ceasefire deal. But the move destabilizes the Israeli government at a delicate moment and could lead to the government's collapse if Ben-Gvir is joined by other key Netanyahu allies.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, for instance, is vehemently opposed to the agreement and has demanded that Netanyahu promise to resume the war against Hamas after the first phase of the ceasefire as a condition of his party staying in the coalition.
A night of heavy Israeli strikes
Palestinians in Gaza reported heavy Israeli bombardment overnight as people were celebrating the ceasefire deal. In previous conflicts, both sides have stepped up military operations in the final hours before ceasefires as a way to project strength.
"We were expecting that the (Israeli) occupation would intensify the bombing, like they did every time there were reports of progress in truce talks," said Mohammed Mahdi, who is sheltering in Gaza City.
Gaza's Health Ministry said Israeli strikes have killed at least 72 people since the ceasefire deal was announced. It said the toll from Thursday's strikes only includes bodies brought to two hospitals in Gaza City and the actual toll is likely higher.
"Yesterday was a bloody day, and today is bloodier," said Zaher al-Wahedi, a Health Ministry official.