Politics Israeli government and security cabinet approve Gaza deal
A ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of further hostages held by the Islamist Hamas is drawing closer. Following Israel's security cabinet, the Israeli government also voted in favor of the agreement with Hamas after hours of meetings, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced on Saturday night. The agreement on the release of the hostages will therefore come into force on Sunday. Despite opposition to the deal from some far-right politicians, it had been expected that a majority would be in favor of the agreement.
18.01.2025, 01:00
SDA
The government meeting started later than planned and took place during the Jewish day of rest, Shabbat, which began late Friday afternoon. According to Israeli media reports, several ultra-Orthodox ministers left the meetings early due to the start of Shabbat. However, they had instructed secretaries to count them among the supporters of the agreement.
Following the government's decision, opponents of the agreement can still lodge an objection with the Supreme Court within a short period of time. However, it is expected that the judges will not provide any reason for the court to intervene against the agreement.
Ceasefire, releases and humanitarian aid
The ceasefire agreement is due to come into force in the Gaza Strip on Sunday at 12.15 pm (11.15 am CET) and will initially apply for 42 days. During this time, 33 of the 98 remaining hostages held by Hamas are to be released. In return, according to Israeli sources, hundreds of Palestinian prisoners will be released from Israeli prisons.
In addition, the important Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza is to be reopened and humanitarian aid for the Palestinians is to be significantly increased. It is also planned that Israel's military will withdraw from densely populated areas of the Gaza Strip. The inhabitants who have fled to the south of the coastal strip are to be allowed to move freely in Gaza again and return to their residential areas in the north under international supervision.
The parties to the conflict want to clarify the details of the second and third phases of the agreement during the first phase. Among other things, there is disagreement over the question of who should govern the Gaza Strip in future.
If the agreement fails, fighting could break out again in the largely destroyed Palestinian territory.
Media: Minister Ben-Gvir protests against deal before meeting
Israeli President Izchak Herzog had called on his country's security cabinet and government to approve the agreement with Hamas. He praised the security cabinet's approval and declared shortly after the decision: "With all my heart I embrace the families of the hostages, especially those who know that their loved ones will not return in the first phase."
According to Israeli media, Israel's far-right Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir had appealed to other members of the coalition to vote against the agreement shortly before the meeting. He had also previously threatened to leave the coalition if the deal was approved.
Which hostages will be released first?
Following the security cabinet meeting, Israel's Ministry of Justice published a list with the names of more than 90 Palestinian prisoners, including many women, who are to be released first as part of the agreement. According to the news website "ynet", one of them has been convicted of murder.
Hamas is due to release the first three hostages on Sunday. According to reports, the terrorist organization will announce who they are on Saturday. It is assumed that they are three civilians.
Reports had initially stated that the Netanyahu government would only meet on Saturday evening, i.e. after the end of Shabbat. Relatives of the hostages held in the Gaza Strip criticized this, as they feared a delay in the start of the ceasefire and thus also the release of the abductees.
