Mediators from Qatar and the United States announced the ceasefire on Wednesday, but the agreement remained in limbo for more than a day, with Netanyahu insisting last-minute obstacles he blamed on Hamas.
Israel’s security cabinet has recommended approval of a ceasefire that would mark a pause in fighting in Gaza and free dozens of hostages held by militants.
The agreement will now be submitted to the full cabinet.
The prime minister’s office said Friday that if the agreement is adopted, the ceasefire could begin as early as Sunday and the first hostages would then be released.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that a deal had been reached to end the 15-month war with Hamas in Gaza and free dozens of hostages held by militants in the Gaza Strip.
Qatar and US mediators announced the ceasefire on Wednesday, but the agreement remained in limbo for more than a day as Mr Netanyahu insisted there were last minute obstacles that he blamed on Hamas.
Activists maintained they were “committed” to the deal, while Gazans and the hostages’ families waited anxiously to see if it would come to fruition.
After approval by Israel’s entire cabinet, the ceasefire could begin as early as Sunday, even if Mr Netanyahu’s far-right coalition partners fiercely oppose it. Their objections, however, could destabilize Mr. Netanyahu’s government.
Fifteen months of war
Hamas started the war by launching a cross-border attack against Israel on October 7, 2023, which left some 1,200 people dead and 250 captives.
Israel responded with a devastating offensive that killed more than 46,000 Palestinians, according to local Hamas-controlled health officials, who do not distinguish between civilians and militants but say women and children represent more than half of those killed.
Beyond the death and destruction in Gaza, the conflict has also destabilized the Middle East and sparked protests around the world.
Israeli strikes killed at least 72 people in Gaza on Thursday. In previous conflicts, both sides intensified military operations in the final hours before the ceasefire to show their strength.
Mr Netanyahu instructed a special team to prepare to receive the hostages returning from Gaza and said their families had been informed that a deal had been reached.
The agreement provides for the release, over a period of six weeks, of 33 of the approximately 100 hostages who are still in Gaza, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Israeli forces will withdraw from many areas, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians will be able to return to what remains of their homes and humanitarian aid will flow.
The rest of the hostages, including the male soldiers, will be released in a second, much more difficult phase, which will be negotiated during the first.
Hamas has declared that it would not release other captives without a lasting ceasefire and full Israeli withdrawalwhile Israel has pledged to continue fighting until it dismantles the group and maintain unlimited security control over the territory.
Jaher Jabareen, head of Hamas’ prisoners office, said Friday that the names of people expected to be released from Israeli prisons would be published, without specifying when.
Longer-term questions about post-war Gaza remain, including who will rule the territory or oversee the colossal task of reconstruction.
An Egyptian official and a Hamas official confirmed that last-minute issues related to the list of Palestinian prisoners to be released from Israeli jails during the first phase of the deal, but that they had now been resolved. The two officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the private negotiations. The Hamas official said mediators showed the group Israel’s approval.
The Egyptian official added that an Israeli delegation from the army and Israel’s internal security agency Shin Bet arrived in Cairo on Friday to discuss the reopening of the Rafah crossing, a key link between the Gaza Strip and Egypt. An Israeli official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the negotiations, confirmed that a delegation was traveling to Cairo to discuss the crossing point.
On Thursday, hard-line Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir threatened to leave the government if Israel approved the ceasefire. He reiterated this threat on Friday, writing on the social network X: “If the agreement is adopted, we will leave the government with a heavy heart.”
Mr. Ben-Gvir’s resignation would not bring down the government or derail the ceasefire agreement, but it would destabilize the government at a delicate time and could potentially lead to its collapse if Mr. Ben-Gvir is joined by other key allies of Mr. Netanyahu.