Summary
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirms a Gaza ceasefire deal has been agreed with Hamas, after overcoming last-minute disputes – here’s our summary of what we know is in the deal
- Netanyahu’s security cabinet is meeting now to vote on the deal and then the government will have to approve it – Netanyahu says if all finalised, the first hostages “are expected to be released as early as Sunday”
- Although the ceasefire deal looks to be on track, there are still some potential hurdles, our correspondent Joel Gunter in Jerusalem writes
- The civil defence agency in Gaza says more than 100 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli strikes since the initial announcement on Wednesday
- Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 back to Gaza as hostages
- The attack triggered a massive Israeli offensive on Gaza, during which more than 46,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to the Hamas-run health ministry
Ceasefire deal looks on track – but what hurdles could there be?
After several delays, the Israeli cabinet is reportedly meeting to discuss the ceasefire deal, and the prime minister’s office has said it expects the release of hostages as early as Sunday.
The deal looks to be on track, but pitfalls remain:
- Far-right members of Israel’s government, led by national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, have threatened to resign over the terms of the deal and have yet to withdraw that threat
- There is a potential logistical hurdle in the form of the Sabbath, which would prevent working on Saturday, in the crucial final hours before the deal is expected to come into force. This hurdle could be overcome, if necessary, by a religious exemption available in Jewish law that allows for the breaking of the Sabbath in order to save a life
- Another sticking point could come in the form of a 48-hour period granted by Israeli law, under which anyone can object to the specific Palestinian prisoners being released in exchange for hostages. The 48-hour period, which begins with the publication of the names of the Palestinian prisoners, could reportedly be shortened via the courts
The more significant obstacles may arrive after phase one of the deal is agreed. The release of the hostages in small groups over six weeks could be fraught and fall apart at any moment, if either side cannot follow through or chooses to renege.
Netanyahu’s fragile political coalition could also fall apart during the process, threatening his ability to see through the terms of the deal as agreed.