The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced early Friday that the regime’s Cabinet had approved a deal to end the war in the Gaza Strip and facilitate a prisoner exchange with Palestinian groups.
The decision came following a late-night Cabinet meeting in Tel Aviv, where ministers voted on the US-mediated ceasefire plan.
“The government, headed by Benjamin Netanyahu, approved the agreement to end the war in the Gaza Strip and return all hostages,” the statement said.
Israel’s public broadcaster KAN reported that the approval means the ceasefire will take effect immediately, marking the first halt to the regime’s brutal assault since October 2023.
US President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that Israel and the Palestinian resistance group Hamas had agreed to the first phase of his plan for a ceasefire and prisoner swap.
The deal followed four days of indirect talks between the two sides in the Egyptian city of Sharm el-Sheikh, with delegations from Turkey, Egypt, and Qatar, under US supervision.
All ministers except five—including far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich—voted in favor.
KAN reported that the dissenting ministers belonged to the extremist Jewish Power and Religious Zionism parties led by Ben-Gvir and Smotrich.
Under the deal, the Israeli army is required to withdraw to the so-called “yellow line” within 24 hours, after which Hamas will release remaining living prisoners within 72 hours.
The move also signals the beginning of a gradual Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza—territory that has endured near-total destruction under months of indiscriminate airstrikes and siege.
Trump’s 20-point plan, unveiled Sept. 29, calls for the release of all Israeli captives in exchange for about 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, a lasting ceasefire, and a phased withdrawal of occupation forces from Gaza.
Phase two envisions a new governing framework in Gaza, a security force composed of Palestinians and troops from Arab and Islamic countries, and foreign-funded reconstruction led by Arab states.
While Arab and Muslim countries cautiously welcomed the plan, many officials said further discussions are needed to ensure fair implementation.
Since October 2023, the Israeli regime’s brutal campaign has killed nearly 67,200 Palestinians—mostly women and children—and reduced Gaza to ruins, drawing global outrage and calls for accountability.