Netanyahu announces tentative deal with Hamas for ceasefire
Early Friday morning, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that an agreement with Palestinian Hamas regarding the release of hostages and a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip has been reached. The Israeli cabinet is expected to approve the agreement later in the day.
According to Israeli media, representatives from Israel, Hamas, the USA, and Qatar signed the agreement in Doha, the capital of Qatar. The families of the hostages are being kept informed about the developments.
Qatar's Foreign Minister, Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, stated that the agreement will come into effect on Sunday if it receives approval from the Israeli cabinet.
However, Netanyahu noted that the final details are still under discussion. On Thursday, he postponed a cabinet meeting on the issue, accusing Hamas of attempting to force "last-minute concessions."
Hamas will adhere to the agreement
Media reports indicate that Hamas has declared its intention to adhere to the agreement but has also tried to include some of its members in the list of Palestinian prisoners slated for release.
On October 7, 2023, terrorists led by Hamas kidnapped 251 hostages from Israel. Of these, 105 were released during a temporary truce in November 2023. Four were released earlier, and the army rescued eight.
The bodies of 40 hostages have been found in the Gaza Strip. Hamas still holds 94 abducted individuals, with Israel confirming the death of 34 of them. The fate of many others remains unknown.
