Jerusalem – The Israeli cabinet is set to meet on January 17 to give final approval to a ceasefire deal with Hamas, which includes the release of hostages and a truce in the Gaza Strip, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced.
Despite ongoing intense strikes by Israeli warplanes in Gaza, which have resulted in numerous casualties, Netanyahu’s office stated that agreements have been reached on the deal to release hostages. The security cabinet will meet on January 17, followed by a full cabinet meeting later to approve the deal.
The ceasefire, scheduled to begin on January 19, aims to end the 15-month conflict that has caused significant devastation in Gaza. The deal includes the release of 33 hostages in the first six-week phase and a surge in humanitarian aid for Gaza.
However, there are concerns that the ceasefire might be delayed if the cabinet does not finalize approval by January 18. Hardliners in Netanyahu’s government have opposed the deal, hoping to continue the war until Hamas is completely defeated.
The international community, including the U.S., remains optimistic that the ceasefire will proceed as planned. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and mediators from Qatar and Egypt are working to resolve any remaining issues.
The ceasefire deal emerged after mediation by Qatar, Egypt, and the U.S., outlining a six-week initial ceasefire with the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces. The agreement aims to bring relief to the war-torn region and pave the way for a more stable future.