(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
Israel’s government has moved forward with a ceasefire and hostage‑release deal that was pitched by former U.S. President Donald Trump’s 20‑point Gaza Peace Plan. The decision was approved by a vote of the Israeli cabinet after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened a security meeting and a separate cabinet session.
In a statement released early Friday, the Prime Minister’s office confirmed that the outline for returning all hostages—both those still alive and those who had been killed—has been approved. The ceasefire is set to take effect immediately, officials said.
U.S. officials were present at the negotiations. Trump’s former special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, and his son‑in‑law, Jared Kushner, joined the Israeli ministers in Jerusalem when the deal was voted on. Trump announced on Wednesday that Israel and Hamas had agreed to the first phase of his peace plan, which he said would end the fighting in Gaza and lead to the release of hostages.
The plan’s first stage involves pulling Israeli forces out of certain Gaza areas and exchanging hostages for any remaining prisoners. Khalil al‑Hayya, Hamas’s chief negotiator, said the U.S. guarantees that the ceasefire marks the end of the war in Gaza.
Despite the agreement, violence has continued. At least 30 people have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire agreement was announced, according to a Palestinian health official. The Al‑Shifa Hospital in Gaza City’s director, Mohammed Abu Salmiya, confirmed that 30 Palestinians died between Wednesday evening and Friday. Residents in the enclave reported smoke and explosions, and the Gaza Civil Defence said that an Israeli strike in the northern Sabra neighborhood buried over 40 people under rubble.
The IDF said the attack targeted a Hamas terrorist cell that posed an immediate threat, but the source could not verify the claim. A video from the Civil Defence shows emergency crews working to clear rubble and rescue victims, including a child who was lifted from a collapsed house with bloodied injuries.
President Trump praised the breakthrough during a White House cabinet meeting, describing the ceasefire as “momentous” and saying it could lead to lasting peace. He also mentioned the hope that all remaining hostages would be released by Monday or Tuesday, and talked about a possible future signing in Egypt to formalise the agreement.
The Israeli government’s vote marks a significant shift in the Gaza conflict, signaling a move toward disengagement and humanitarian relief after months of intense fighting. The situation remains fluid, with both sides monitoring the unfolding situation closely.
Source: aninews
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