Israel, on early Friday, said that it has approved a deal to secure the release of all hostages held in Gaza, both living and deceased. “The government has just approved the framework for the release of all the hostages — both the living and the deceased,” a statement issued by the prime minister’s office said.
It marks a significant step toward a potential pause in the devastating two-year conflict. The approval focuses on the exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners, brokered by US President Donald Trump, while other aspects of the ceasefire plan remain unresolved.Iran welcomed the Gaza ceasefire agreement, which it has supported for years.
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“Iran has always supported any action and initiative that includes stopping the genocidal war, withdrawal of the occupying forces, bringing in humanitarian aid, releasing Palestinian prisoners and realising the fundamental rights of the Palestinians,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.
Israeli strikes continue
The Cabinet’s decision came as Israeli forces continued airstrikes in Gaza. One attack reportedly left over 40 people trapped under rubble, with at least two confirmed dead, according to the Palestinian civil defence. The Gaza health ministry reported 11 deaths and 49 injuries over the past 24 hours, though it does not differentiate between civilians and combatants.The tentative agreement comes after months of stalled negotiations. The broader ceasefire plan faces unresolved questions, including Hamas’ disarmament and governance of Gaza. The conflict, which began with Hamas’ deadly attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, has claimed tens of thousands of lives. Gaza’s health ministry reports more than 67,000 Palestinians killed and nearly 170,000 wounded, with women and children accounting for roughly half the deaths.An Israeli military official said the strikes targeted threats to troops, even as mediators pressed for a truce. Hamas accused Netanyahu of trying to “shuffle the cards and confuse” efforts to end the war.‘Full implementation’: Hamas confirms Gaza ceasefire, hostage exchange deal with Israel; vows to remain ‘faithful to cause’ Hamas on Thursday announced that it has reached a hostage-ceasefire agreement with Israel during indirect talks in Egypt, saying the exchange of hostages and Palestinian prisoners would take place within 72 hours of the deal’s implementation. The group confirmed that, as part of the first phase of a deal to end the war in Gaza, it will exchange 20 surviving hostages for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, as cited by AFP. Hamas said the deal “provides for an end to the war in Gaza, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, the entry of humanitarian aid, and a prisoner exchange.” Hamas thanked the mediators and US President Donald Trump for brokering an end to the conflict with Israel, while urging them “to compel the occupation government to fully implement the obligations of the agreement and to prevent it from evading or delaying the implementation of what has been agreed upon.” “We salute our great people in the Gaza Strip, in Jerusalem and the West Bank, inside our homeland and abroad, who have demonstrated unmatched honor, courage, and steadfastness, confronting the occupation’s fascist schemes that targeted them and their national rights,” the statement read further. Hamas also vowed to honor the sacrifices of its people and remain committed to achieving freedom, independence, and self-determination. “We affirm that our people’s sacrifices will not be in vain, and we pledge to remain faithful to our cause and never abandon our national rights until freedom, independence, and self-determination are achieved,” the statement adds, as cited by the Times of Israel. This comes as Trump announced that Israel and Hamas have reached an agreement to release the remaining Israeli hostages, with Israel set to withdraw its troops to an agreed-upon line — a long-awaited breakthrough that could signal an end to the two-year war in Gaza. Trump said both sides agreed to the first phase of his plan, which calls for the exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners. “This is a GREAT Day for the Arab and Muslim World, Israel, all surrounding Nations, and the United States of America, and we thank the mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, who worked with us to make this Historic and Unprecedented Event happen. BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS!” Trump said through a post on Truth Social. Trump’s announcement came after a day of intense negotiations in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, where US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly handed him a note during a White House event, indicating that a deal was imminent. Trump later said he expects to travel to Egypt as early as this weekend, possibly Friday, to oversee the next phase of discussions. This month, Trump introduced a 20-point peace plan aimed at ending the war and securing the release of the remaining hostages. Israel says around 20 hostages are still alive in Gaza and continues to search for the remains of approximately 25 others.
