Gaza latest: Israeli cabinet approves Trump’s plan for ceasefire and release of hostages

Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, said yesterday that bringing the hostages home “has been a priority for the US president for a very, very long time, and we have all worked very tirelessly to make that happen”.

He added: “But I really want to say that all of this would not have been possible without the bravery of the IDF and the soldiers, what they have achieved not only in Gaza, but what they have done over the last few years to dismantle Hezbollah in the north and really degrade them, what you were able to do in Iran. It really helped set a great atmosphere.

“But especially looking at the way your militia … I know a lot of you, probably all of you have family, friends who were in this effort, really sacrificed their lives to fight for their country and try and make a difference. I think it made a very, very big difference there.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said “we are at an important development” as he met with US officials late Thursday to approve Donald Trump’s brokered peace plan for Gaza.

He said, “Over the past two years, we have fought to achieve our war objectives. And one of the main goals of these war objectives is to return the hostages. All hostages, alive and dead. And we are going to achieve that.”

“We could not have achieved this without the extraordinary help of President Trump and his team, Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner. They worked tirelessly with Ron and his team, our team. That, and because of the courage of our troops entering Gaza, there was a combined military and diplomatic pressure that isolated Hamas. I believe that’s what got us to this point.

“I want to personally thank both of you, Steve, Jared. It’s been a long time. You worked around the clock, but not only worked – I think you put your mind and heart into it. We know this is for the benefit of Israel and the United States, for the benefit of decent people everywhere. And for the benefit of these families who will ultimately be with their loved ones. And I want to thank you on their behalf, as well as on behalf of the people of Israel I am. Thank you”.

Celebrations broke out in Gaza and Israel as news spread that a hostage deal brokered by Donald Trump could bring an end to two years of bloodshed. But for many Palestinians, concerns remain about the future.

The president said Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a deal, which should include the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian detainees, as well as an end to Benjamin Netanyahu’s offensive on the territory.

Israeli cabinet and government meetings scheduled for Thursday are the final step toward approving the deal. If approved, the ceasefire would come into effect 24 hours after the cabinet meeting, a government spokesman said.

Nedal Hamdouna reports from Gaza.

The Israeli Cabinet approved a ceasefire agreement brokered by Donald Trump early Friday, but it was not immediately clear whether the ceasefire had gone into effect.

A statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed that the Cabinet approved the “outlines” of a deal to release the hostages, without mentioning other aspects of the plan.

An Israeli official told The Associated Press that the ceasefire should begin immediately after government approval.

The Israeli army has 24 hours to withdraw its forces to the agreed border.

However, Israeli officials have not clarified when the ceasefire will officially begin.

According to the Palestinian Information Center, despite approving the peace plan, Israel continued its military activity in Gaza.

Explosions were seen in northern Gaza yesterday and an attack on a building in Gaza City left at least two people dead and more than 40 trapped under debris, according to the Palestinian Civil Defense.

The US is sending about 200 troops to Israel to help support and monitor the ceasefire agreement in Gaza as part of a team that includes partner nations, non-governmental organizations and private sector players, US officials said.

Officials told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity that US Central Command is to set up a “civil-military coordination center” in Israel that will help facilitate the flow of humanitarian aid as well as logistics and security assistance to the region damaged by two years of war.

The comments provide some initial details about how the ceasefire agreement will be monitored and the role the US military will play in that effort.

After Israel and Hamas agreed to the first phase of the Trump administration’s plan to stop the fighting, many questions remain over the next steps, including the disarmament of Hamas, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and a future government in the region.

One of the officials said the new team would help monitor the implementation of the ceasefire agreement and the transition to civilian government in Gaza.

The coordination center will be staffed by about 200 U.S. service members with expertise in transportation, planning, security, logistics and engineering, the official said, adding that no U.S. troops will be sent to Gaza.

jerusalem postIsraeli newspaper has honored President Donald Trump on its front cover.

The front cover features a silhouette of Trump superimposed over the faces of the 48 Gaza hostages and the words: “He’s bringing them home.”

A quote from former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir is also displayed. It reads: “Perhaps it is too early to say ‘after the war’, because we are actually living under a ceasefire in a war that has not yet ended.”

This comes after Trump helped broker the first phase of a peace deal between Israel and Hamas.

Israeli Ambassador to America Yechiel Leiter has told pbs news hour“Hamas cannot stand in Gaza.”

“If they don’t disarm, we will move toward military confrontation again,” Leiter said.

Israel’s Cabinet early Friday approved President Donald Trump’s plan for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of all remaining hostages held by Hamas, a significant step toward ending the devastating two-year war that has destabilized the Middle East.

A brief statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the Cabinet had approved the “outlines” of a deal to release the hostages, without mentioning other aspects of the plan that are more controversial.

The comprehensive ceasefire plan included many unanswered questions, such as whether and how Hamas would disarm and who would rule Gaza. But both sides appear closer than they have in months to ending a war that has killed thousands of Palestinians, reduced much of Gaza to rubble, brought famine to parts of the territory and left dozens of hostages, alive and dead, in Gaza.

The war, which began with Hamas’ deadly attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, has also sparked other conflicts in the region, sparking protests around the world and accusations of genocide, which Israel denies.

Read more from Sammy Magda, melanie lidman And wafa shurafa,

Alaska Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski said, “We are all relieved that Israel and Hamas have agreed to terms including the release of all remaining hostages, the early withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and increased delivery of much-needed aid.”