Israel’s security cabinet has formally endorsed a ceasefire agreement with Hamas, signaling a significant step toward ending the 15-month conflict. The agreement, which includes provisions for the release of 98 hostages held by the Palestinian militant group, still requires the final approval of the full Israeli government before it can take effect.
On Wednesday, US-led mediators announced that both Israel and Hamas had agreed on a multi-phase deal aimed at halting the war and securing the release of hostages. However, formal approval was delayed due to disagreements between the two sides over the release of Palestinian prisoners and political tensions within Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition government.
The prime minister’s office confirmed on Friday that Netanyahu’s security cabinet had reviewed the deal’s diplomatic, security, and humanitarian aspects, ultimately endorsing the agreement. The deal now needs to be approved by a majority of Israel’s government ministers, with a final vote expected on Friday afternoon. If approved, the ceasefire and hostage releases are set to begin on Sunday.
While Netanyahu’s office had previously accused Hamas of backtracking on the deal, it was confirmed that the Israeli negotiating team had reached an agreement on the terms for hostages’ release.
The approval of the deal comes amidst growing political tensions in Israel, as far-right ministers within Netanyahu’s coalition, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, have strongly opposed the ceasefire. Ben-Gvir threatened to withdraw his Jewish Power party from the coalition if the deal moved forward, a move that would leave Netanyahu’s government with a slim two-seat majority in the Knesset. If both Ben-Gvir and Smotrich exit the coalition, it could lead to early elections, though opposition parties have indicated a willingness to support the government in such a scenario.
