Israel’s security cabinet approves agreement with Hamas

Chijioke Obinna

Israel's security cabinet approves agreement with Hamas

This Friday, Israel’s security cabinet gave the ‘green light’ to the agreement with the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, although the pact must still be ratified by the Government in a meeting. which is planned for later.

The body, made up of the main ministers and senior defense officials, voted this Friday in favor of the ceasefire in Gaza and recommended to the Government to ratify it in a meeting to be held at 3:30 p.m. (1:30 p.m. GMT).

“After examining all political, security and humanitarian aspects and understanding that the proposed agreement supports the achievement of the war objectives, the Ministerial Committee on National Security Affairs (Security Cabinet) recommended that the Government approve the scheme proposed,” the Office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced this Friday.

The The only two votes against were those of the far-right Ministers of Finance, Bezalel Smotrich, and that of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, who oppose stopping the war, believing it will allow Hamas to rearm and impede its aspirations to reoccupy the Palestinian enclave.

“I call on my friends from the (ruling party) Likud and Religious Zionism, it is not too late, we are facing a government meeting, this agreement can be stopped, join me,” Ben Gvir urged in a video statement, who said to be “even more horrified” with the pact to release Palestinian prisoners for hostages.

“Everyone knows that these terrorists will try to harm again, they will try to kill again,” the minister continued.

When will the Government of Israel approve it?

The Government of Israel is expected to give the green light in the next few hours to the ceasefire agreed upon by the mediators with Hamas last Wednesday, as confirmed to EFE by an Israeli official, under anonymity, who said that the meeting would begin at 3:30 p.m. local time.

Israeli sources had previously said the meeting was to be held on Saturday night, after Shabbat, angering the hostages’ families, who said the delay brought ratification of the deal dangerously close to Sunday, the day that the first hostages must be released in an exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

As agreed, the ceasefire comes into effect on Sunday at 12:15 noon and, according to reports from the Israeli media Walla, the exchange of the first hostages will begin around 4:00 p.m. local time (2:00 p.m.) , although at the moment there is no official time announcement.

While there are less than 48 hours left for this to happen, Israeli attacks continue in Gaza and since Qatar’s announcement of the truce last Wednesday at least 113 Palestinians have died in the Strip, 87 of them in the bombed northern city of Gaza, and more than 260 have been injured, according to the latest figures from the Gazan Civil Defense.

A pact divided into three phases

The United States and Qatar announced on Wednesday that, as main mediators between Israel and Hamas, the parties had reached an agreement for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip that also includes the release of hostages kidnapped by the Islamist group since the 7th. October 2023, in exchange for an undetermined number of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

However, the Israeli government did not comment on the matter at the time and on Thursday Prime Minister Netanyahu accused Hamas of “creating a last-minute crisis” by “retracting explicit understandings.” In this context, the Israeli head of the Executive announced the postponement of the meeting that his Government was going to hold to ratify the agreement.

The pact, reached after months of indirect talks, will be divided into three phases. The first of them will last 42 days and will certify the cease-fire, the withdrawal of Israeli troops towards the border and the exchange of 33 hostages for Palestinian prisoners.

The second phase will consist of “safe and effective” humanitarian aid distribution in much of the Gaza Strip, devastated after more than 15 months of Israeli offensive. There will also be carried out repair of health centers and civil supplies and fuel will be allowed to enter the enclave. As the first phase is certified, more details of the second and third stages of the pact will be announced.

Israel launched its offensive against Gaza after the attacks carried out on October 7, 2023, which left nearly 1,200 dead and about 250 kidnapped. Since then, almost 46,800 Palestinians have died in the Strip, according to the Gazan authorities, controlled by Hamas, to which are added more than 850 deaths at the hands of security forces and in attacks carried out by settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Chijioke Obinna

I've been passionate about storytelling and journalism since my early days growing up in Lagos. With a background in political science and years of experience in investigative reporting, I aim to bring nuanced perspectives to pressing global issues. Outside of writing, I enjoy exploring Nigeria’s vibrant cultural scene and mentoring young aspiring journalists.