Israeli security Cabinet recommends Gaza ceasefire deal

The Israeli security Cabinet has recommended approving the Gaza ceasefire and hostage return agreement, ahead of a full Cabinet meeting expected later Friday, according to a statement from the Israeli prime minister’s office.

Despite some uncertainty over the timing of the final Cabinet approval, the deal is expected to begin as originally scheduled on Sunday, the prime minister’s office said.

“Pending approval by the Security Cabinet and the Government, and the agreement taking effect, the release of the hostages will be implemented according to the planned framework in which the hostages are expected to be released on Sunday,” it said in a statement.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog welcomed the security Cabinet’s ceasefire approval and said he expects the full Cabinet “to follow suit in swiftly affirming this decision.”

The security Cabinet is a small forum of senior ministers, while the full Israeli Cabinet is composed of more than 30 ministers.

The ceasefire agreement will feature a three-week-long pause in fighting and the release of dozens of Israeli hostages and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

The Israel Prison Service said Friday it was taking measures to prevent any “public displays of joy” when Palestinian prisoners are released as part of the Gaza ceasefire deal.

In this first phase, Israeli troops will pull back to the edges of Gaza, and many Palestinians will be able to return to what remains of their homes as increased aid flows into the besieged enclave.

Hamas said on Friday that there were no longer any barriers to the agreement.

Outgoing Democratic U.S. President Joe Biden said on Thursday in an interview with MSNBC that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “has to find a way to accommodate the legitimate concerns” of Palestinians for the long term sustainability of Israel.

The United Nations says at least 1.9 million of the 2.3 million people living in Gaza have been displaced and 92% of housing units have been destroyed.

The World Health Organization, or WHO, said on Friday that it should be possible to increase aid imports into Gaza to around 600 trucks per day under the ceasefire agreement.

“I think the possibility is very much there and specifically when other crossings will be opened up,” Rik Peeperkorn, WHO representative for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, told a Geneva press briefing. “This can be built up very rapidly.”

Peeperkorn also said he expected the ceasefire to allow for more medical evacuations for the more than 12,000 patients on the waiting list. Around one-third of the people on the list are children.

“We hope now with the ceasefire process that this will be better facilitated and supported,” he said.

The war in Gaza began when Hamas launched an attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing more than 1,200 people and abducting about 250 hostages. Of those hostages, just under 100 are thought to remain in Hamas custody, but about one-third are believed to be dead.

Gaza authorities say nearly 47,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed in subsequent Israeli military operations. Without providing evidence, Israel says the death toll includes thousands of militants it has killed.

Some information in this report came from Reuters and Agence France-Presse.