Gaza ceasefire agreement: Approval from Israel security cabinet

TEL AVIV: Israel's Security Cabinet has approved the ceasefire agreement in Gaza. With the approval of the deal, a ceasefire will come into effect in Gaza from Sunday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the hostages held by Hamas will be released on Sunday. Of the 33 hostages that Hamas agreed to release in the first phase, three are expected to be released on Sunday. The Security Cabinet is a group of elected ministers within the cabinet that make decisions regarding the Gaza war. The final approval of the full cabinet is also required.

Israel has previously accused Hamas of trying to "extort last minute concessions". However, the deadlock was lifted after the arbitrators Qatar, Egypt and the US assured that Hamas had accepted all the terms. Ceasefire will be done in three stages. Discussions on the second phase will begin from the 16th day of the six-week first phase. The remaining hostages will be released in the second phase. Of the 94 hostages in Gaza, only 60 are alive.

The deal was approved over strong opposition from far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. Both have announced their resignations. Hundreds of trucks, including those of the UN, have started arriving at the Egyptian border to deliver aid including food to Gaza. The number of people killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza since the ceasefire was agreed on Wednesday night has risen to 113, including 28 children. The total death toll has crossed 46,870.