Israel Approves Gaza Ceasefire and Hostage Deal with Hamas

January 18, 2025, New Delhi: Israel’s government has approved a new ceasefire and hostage release agreement with Hamas, setting the stage for implementation on Sunday. The decision came after extended discussions into the night, with two far-right ministers opposing the deal.According to BBC, the security cabinet earlier recommended ratifying the agreement, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said would “support the achievement of the objectives of the war.”The agreement, finalized with mediation from Qatar, the US, and Egypt, includes several phases:Hostage Exchange: In the first six weeks, 33 Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza will be exchanged for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners including women and children in Israeli jails.Ceasefire and Aid: Israeli forces will withdraw from densely populated areas of Gaza. Displaced Palestinians will begin returning to their homes, and 600 aid trucks per day will be allowed into Gaza, a significant increase from the UN-reported daily average of 43 in January.Further Negotiations: After 16 days, discussions will commence on releasing the remaining hostages, a full Israeli troop withdrawal, and achieving long-term peace.Reconstruction: The final phase will focus on rebuilding Gaza and returning the bodies of any remaining hostages.Qatar confirmed that the first group of hostages to be released will include women, children, elderly individuals, and those with medical needs. On the first day of the ceasefire, three Israeli hostages are expected to be freed, with additional releases planned at regular intervals.The ongoing conflict since October 7, 2023 has devastated Gaza, with over 46,870 deaths reported. According to Gaza’s health ministry. The population of 2.3 million faces severe shortages of food, fuel, medicine, and shelter amid widespread displacement and destruction.The healthcare system is in crisis, with BBC reporting that half of Gaza’s 36 hospitals are non-functional, and the rest are only partially operational. The World Health Organization (WHO) plans to deploy prefabricated hospitals to alleviate the strain.A senior Egyptian official told the BBC that a meeting in Cairo on Friday finalized mechanisms for implementing the deal, including a joint operations room with representatives from Egypt, Qatar, the US, Palestine, and Israel to ensure compliance