Israel’s government has officially approved a ceasefire agreement with Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, leading to the cessation of hostilities in Gaza within 24 hours. Following this, Israeli hostages held in Gaza are set to be released within 72 hours. The Israeli cabinet gave its consent to the ceasefire deal early on Friday, about a day after mediators announced a plan to release Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. This marks the initial phase of U.S. President Donald Trump’s efforts to end the two-year conflict in Gaza.
According to a statement from Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s official English-language account, “The government has just now approved the framework for the release of all of the hostages — the living and the deceased.”
The prolonged conflict has exacerbated Israel’s international isolation and disrupted the stability of the Middle East, expanding into a broader regional confrontation involving Iran, Yemen, and Lebanon. The situation has also strained the relationship between the U.S. and Israel, with Trump displaying impatience towards Netanyahu and urging him to finalize a resolution.
