The Israeli security cabinet recommended today that the government approve an agreement that would suspend fighting in Gaza and secure the release of dozens of hostages being held by Hamas. The Israeli government now has to approve the deal before it can go into effect. According to VOA Jerusalem correspondent Linda Gradstein, if approved, the deal would go into effect on Sunday with the exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, paving the way for finalizing the principles that will ultimately end the conflict.
Israelis are eagerly awaiting the release of 98 hostages – both alive and dead – who have been held by Hamas since October 7, 2023, when the militant group killed 1,200 people during an attack in southern Israel.
In the first phase of the ceasefire deal, scheduled to begin Sunday, Hamas will release 33 hostages — women, children and the elderly, including two American-Israeli citizens. Israel will release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
But there are also those in Israel who are skeptical that Hamas will stick to its promises. So far, Hamas has refused to provide a list of the names of the hostages still alive. Udi Gorem's cousin, Tal Haim, was killed in fighting on October 7 and his body was kidnapped and sent to Gaza.
“What will happen if Hamas says, ‘We can’t find your cousin. Excuse us. We don’t know where he is.’ What are we going to do? Are we going to break the deal? Are we going to have international support? The guarantees that have been given to us are that if Hamas does that, then the deal is over,” he says.
According to the agreement, discussions on a long-term ceasefire are scheduled to begin on the 16th day of the ceasefire. Some Israeli analysts say there is no guarantee that the two sides will reach a final agreement.
"We know that ceasefires go from temporary to less temporary to more permanent. That would be a very bad scenario for Israel, for its security. It would be even worse for the people of Gaza because it would leave them in an intermediate situation, with Hamas still in power and still in control, but Hamas is too weakened to do anything useful in Gaza," says former Israeli army spokesman Jonathan Conricus.
Palestinians in Gaza are expressing joy over the end of Israeli attacks, which according to Hamas, have caused the deaths of 46,000 people and extensive destruction in the territory.
"I am very happy, but at the same time, I feel a deep sadness. We are returning to our homes, but we have lost our nieces and nephews, fathers, brothers, cousins, neighbors and our homes," says Fadi Naeem, a Gaza resident.
The ceasefire also means a major increase in humanitarian aid entering Gaza. The United Nations World Food Program says 80,000 tons of food are ready to enter Gaza.
Meanwhile, Palestinians say Israeli attacks on Gaza are continuing. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry says at least 80 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli attacks since Wednesday./ VOA (A2 Televizion)
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