Israel’s government has officially ratified a ceasefire agreement with Hamas, setting the stage to end two years of war in Gaza. The deal, approved early Friday, includes the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and a gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops. Mediated under U.S. President Donald Trump’s Middle East peace initiative, the ceasefire is expected to take effect within 24 hours, followed by the release of hostages within 72 hours.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the cabinet’s approval, saying it paves the way for the return of both living and deceased hostages. According to Israeli officials, 20 hostages are still alive, 26 are presumed dead, and the fate of two remains uncertain. Hamas indicated that recovering the bodies of the dead may take additional time.
The truce, hailed as the most significant breakthrough in ending the conflict, comes after over 67,000 Palestinians were killed since the war began in October 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked Israeli towns, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. As part of the agreement, humanitarian aid will surge into Gaza to assist civilians displaced by months of bombardment.
Despite optimism, challenges persist. Hamas has yet to finalize the list of Palestinian prisoners for release, and Israel’s far-right ministers have threatened to withdraw support if Hamas is not dismantled. Still, celebrations erupted across Gaza and Israel as citizens expressed relief at the long-awaited ceasefire.
President Trump is expected to travel to the region for a possible signing ceremony in Egypt, marking what could be a major diplomatic victory for his administration. Meanwhile, discussions in Paris have focused on deploying an international peacekeeping force, with 200 U.S. troops joining a joint task force alongside Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and the UAE to stabilize Gaza post-conflict.