Daijiworld Media Network - Jerusalem

Jerusalem, Oct 10: Israel’s government has approved the first phase of a ceasefire agreement with Hamas, paving the way for an immediate halt to hostilities in Gaza and the release of Israeli captives. The agreement, ratified late Thursday night, includes a prisoner swap and partial Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, though long-term peace arrangements remain unclear.

Khalil al-Hayya, head of Hamas’s negotiating team, said the group has received guarantees from the US and mediators that the first-phase agreement signifies the war in Gaza “has ended completely.”

Under the agreement, Hamas has 72 hours to release 20 living captives still held in Gaza, with the release expected by Sunday or Monday. The bodies of 28 deceased captives will also be returned, though the timeline for that is not yet specified.

The living captives expected to be released include: Matan Angrist, Ziv Berman, Gali Berman, Elkana Bohbot, Rom Breslavski, Nimrod Cohen, Ariel Cunio, David Cunio, Evitar David, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, Maxim Harkin, Eitan Horn, Segev Kalfon, Bar Kuperstein, Omri Miran, Eitan Mor, Yosef Haim Ohana, Alon Ohel, Avintan Or, and Matan Tsangoker.

The ceasefire plan faced opposition from right-wing factions in Israel. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir reportedly told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu he would not support any government allowing Hamas to continue ruling Gaza.

Since October 2023, the Israel-Hamas conflict has resulted in at least 67,194 deaths and 169,890 injuries in Gaza, with thousands more believed trapped under rubble. In Israel, 1,139 people were killed in the October 7 attacks, and about 200 were taken captive.

Al Jazeera correspondent Hamdah Salhut reported that with the ratification of the deal, the release of Israeli captives will proceed, marking the official end of Israel’s war in the Gaza Strip.