The Israeli government ratified a ceasefire deal with Hamas on Friday, setting in motion a 24-hour pause in hostilities in Gaza and a 72-hour timeline to free Israeli hostages held there.
Approved early after mediators unveiled the agreement, the deal calls for the release of Israeli captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and the start of a phased withdrawal of Israeli troops under U.S. President Donald Trump's initiative to end the two-year conflict.
Across both sides, relief and cautious optimism spread after more than 67,000 Palestinians lost their lives and last hostages were seized in the deadly attacks that escalated the assault.
Hamas's Gaza chief, Khalil Al-Hayya, said he received guarantees from the United States and other mediators that the conflict was over, while an Israeli spokesperson confirmed the ceasefire would activate within 24 hours of government approval.
Twenty hostages are believed alive in Gaza, 26 are presumed dead, and two remain unaccounted for. Hamas indicated recovering bodies may take longer than releasing the living.
Once operational, trucks loaded with food and medical aid will surge into Gaza, aiming to relieve hundreds of thousands of civilians sheltering in tents after homes were destroyed and entire cities leveled.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
