Middle East conflict: Israel government votes to approve Gaza ceasefire deal

The Prime Minister’s Office issued a brief statement after 1 a.m. confirming that the government had approved the deal after meeting for more than seven hours, reported The Times of Israel.

The first three Israeli hostages are expected to be released on Sunday, more than a year after Hamas forces kidnapped them during their attack on October 7, 2023.

According to reports, 33 hostages are expected to be released in the 42-phase of the deal.

Ending the 15-month conflict, apart from 33 hostages, hundreds of Palestinian prisoners are expected to be exchanged during the first phase of the ceasefire deal.

Israeli forces will also withdraw from densely populated areas of Gaza, displaced Palestinians will be allowed to begin returning to their homes and hundreds of aid lorries will be allowed into the territory each day, reported BBC.

Israeli forces launched a campaign to destroy Hamas after the group launched a massive cross-border attack on October 7, 2023 which left about 1,200 people killed.

The Hamas attackers had taken 251 people hostage.

As per Hamas-run health ministry,  46,870 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched a campaign against the group after the October 7 attack.

Meanwhile, Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the UN agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) on Friday welcomed the Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal, pledging to scale up aid delivery across the stricken enclave once it comes into effect.

Speaking to reporters at UN Headquarters in New York, Lazzarini emphasised that the agreement is only the first step in addressing the region’s overwhelming humanitarian challenges.

He joined UN Secretary-General António Guterres in urging all parties to fully implement the ceasefire and ensure unrestricted humanitarian access to meet urgent needs.

“UNRWA is ready to support the international response by scaling up aid delivery,” he said.