The Israeli cabinet met Friday and gave its final approval to a deal with Palestinian group Hamas for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and release of captives in return for Palestinian detainees, the Israeli prime minister’s office has said.
In Gaza itself, Israeli warplanes kept up intense strikes, and Palestinian authorities said late on Thursday that at least 86 people were killed in the day after the truce was unveiled.
With longstanding divisions apparent among ministers, Israel delayed meetings expected on Thursday when the cabinet was expected to vote on the pact, blaming Hamas for the hold-up. But in the early hours of Friday, Netanyahu’s office said approval was imminent.
The ceasefire accord emerged on Wednesday after mediation by Qatar, Egypt and the US. The deal outlines a six-week initial ceasefire with the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces. Dozens of Israeli captives by Hamas including women, children, elderly and sick people would be freed in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners detained in Israel.
It paves the way for a surge in humanitarian aid for Gaza, where the majority of the population has been displaced, facing hunger, sickness and cold due to Israel’s siege and indiscriminate attacks, which have killed over 46,000 people.
