Release on Sunday
Israeli government agrees to ceasefire and hostage deal
Updated 01/18/2025 – 05:07 amReading time: 2 minutes
The Israeli government has agreed to an agreement with Hamas. This paves the way for a ceasefire and the release of hostages.
After the Israeli security cabinet, the entire government has now approved the agreement with Hamas on a ceasefire and the release of further hostages. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced this on Saturday night. Despite the resistance of some right-wing extremist politicians to the agreement, the government’s majority decision was expected.
The ceasefire is scheduled to begin on Sunday at 12:15 p.m. (11:15 a.m. CET). Netanyahu’s office announced that it could come into force as planned, provided the security cabinet and government agree. The release of the first hostages is also expected on Sunday. According to Israeli media, this could happen at 4 p.m. local time (3 p.m. CET). The agreement between Israel and Hamas was announced on Wednesday evening after 15 months of war.
After the agreement on a ceasefire between Israel and the Islamist Hamas, the people of the Gaza Strip are hoping for urgently needed aid deliveries from Egypt. According to the information, intensive work is already being done to repair facilities, roads and buildings at the border crossing.
Dozens of trucks have already been positioned to bring relief supplies into the Gaza Strip when the crossing opens. The Palestinian side has been controlled by the Israeli army since May last year and the border crossing has been closed since then.
Under Israeli law, relatives of terror victims are allowed to appeal the release of certain Palestinian prisoners. According to the government decision, they have 24 hours to file such a petition with the Supreme Court. But the judges are not expected to see any reason to thwart the agreement.
The conflicting parties want to clarify the details of the second and third phases of the agreement on a permanent end to the war and a complete withdrawal of Israel from the Gaza Strip during the first phase.