The Israeli government has approved an agreement with Hamas for a ceasefire in Gaza, the release of hostages, and a prisoner exchange. The ceasefire will take effect Sunday at 08:30 local time (07:30 Belgian time), announced Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Saturday morning.
Talks began on Friday evening around 18:30 local time (17:30 Belgian time) and concluded nearly seven hours later, at about 01:00 local time (midnight Belgian time), with the agreement’s approval.
"We advise residents to take precautions, exercise utmost caution and wait for directives from official sources," the Qatar spokeperson said. The Gulf state is one of the mediating countries around the table to negotiate the ceasefire.
Far-right opposition
Israeli media report that 24 ministers voted in favour, while eight voted against. The opposing votes came from ministers of the far-right National Religious Party-Religious Zionism, the far-right Otzma Yehudit party, and David Amsalem and Amichai Chikli of the right-wing Likud party, The Times of Israel and Israel Hayom reported.
Opponents have 24 hours to petition the High Court of Justice.
As the meeting extended into the Sabbath, orthodox ministers left notes outlining their support for the deal, achieving a majority, The Jerusalem Post reports.
Initially, the agreement includes a 42-day ceasefire in Gaza and the release of 33 out of 98 remaining hostages in exchange for 737 Palestinian prisoners in the first phase of the agreement. In total, Israel will release 1,904 Palestinians from Israeli prisons and camps, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government announced on Saturday.
Hostage releases are set to begin on Sunday.
Increased humanitarian aid, troop withdrawal, return of displaced persons
Under the agreement, the Rafah border crossing would reopen, and humanitarian aid would significantly increase. Israeli troops would withdraw from densely populated areas in Gaza, and internally displaced Gazans would be able to return to their homes in the north.
Details of the second and third phases are to be determined during the first phase.
Sources involved in the negotiations indicated on Wednesday that an agreement had been reached. Hamas had agreed to the terms but added hurdles and the Israeli government delayed its formal approval.
On Thursday, the Israeli security cabinet approved the agreement, despite opposition from National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who threatened to leave the government if it passed.
The government finalised its decision early on Saturday.
This article was last updated at 14:30 on Saturday to include the latest information about the number of prisoners that will be released by Israel.
