Agreement reached on ceasefire in Gaza war

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was informed by his negotiating team that an agreement had been reached on the release of the hostages, the office of the head of government announced early on Friday morning. Netanyahu had ordered that the security cabinet be convened in the course of the day. According to a Netanyahu spokesman, the government will meet on Saturday evening to give its final approval to the agreement, the Times of Israel reported.

The mediating state of Qatar had actually already announced an agreement between Israel and the Islamist Hamas on a ceasefire on Wednesday, in the course of which hostages were to be released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. According to Israeli sources, however, there was still trouble over the details. Netanyahu accused Hamas of trying to extort concessions at the last minute. According to media reports, the issue was which Palestinian prisoners - including convicted terrorists - would be released in return for the hostages. Hamas had rejected the accusations.

The ceasefire will initially apply for 42 days. During this time, 33 of the 98 remaining hostages held by Hamas are to be released. In return, according to Israeli sources, hundreds of Palestinian prisoners are to be released from Israeli jails. According to the agreement announced by Qatar on Wednesday evening, the ceasefire should come into force on Sunday at 11.15 a.m. CET. According to the Times of Israel, a spokesman for Netanyahu said that opponents of the agreement would have 24 hours to file a petition with the Supreme Court. This would mean that the ceasefire would only come into force on Monday - one day later than planned.