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The deal, which comes into effect on Sunday, involves exchanging Gaza prisoners for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet approves ceasefire deal with Hamas in Gaza. In this war that lasted for more than 460 days, Israeli forces killed more than 46,788 Palestinians and wounded 110,453 others.
this tradeThe deal, approved in the early hours of Saturday and expected to take effect on Sunday, involves exchanging prisoners in Gaza for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons before finalizing terms to permanently end the war.
Israel postponed a key meeting of its security cabinet and cabinet scheduled for Thursday’s vote amid long-running glaring differences among ministers, blaming Hamas for the delays.
Netanyahu’s office claimed that Hamas reneged on key parts of the deal to obtain last-minute concessions. But senior Hamas official Izzat Rishek insisted the group remained committed to the ceasefire.
Hamas said in a statement earlier on Friday that obstacles related to the terms of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza had been resolved at dawn that day.
Netanyahu’s office said Hamas would begin releasing prisoners “as early as Sunday” if the deal is approved by Israel’s cabinet.
Mediators Qatar, Egypt and the United States announced a ceasefire on Wednesday. The deal outlines an initial six-week ceasefire, a gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops from many areas of Gaza and a surge in humanitarian aid.
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