The Israeli government on Friday approved the framework of a deal that calls for the release of all hostages held by Hamas since the October 7, 2023, cross-border raid.
The deal encompasses the release of all hostages at once in return for the Palestinian prisoners and withdrawal of the Israeli military from Gaza. Netanyahu’s office posted on X that "The government has just now approved the framework for the release of all of the hostages – the living and the deceased."
The deal was brokered by the United States and mediated by Qatar, and Egypt would see a halt in the fighting and an end to the bombing campaign after two years. The Israeli government’s approval comes after US President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Hamas agreed to "phase one" of his Gaza plan.
Phase one of the plan focuses on the exchange of hostages and prisoners, while the next phase would focus on the governance of Gaza. As per the Israeli government, 48 Israeli captives are still in Hamas captivity, out of which only 20 are thought to be alive.
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Meanwhile, Israeli protesters and people living in Gaza celebrated the long-awaited ceasefire deal. On Thursday, thousands of Israelis exchanged greetings while similar scenes unfolded in Gaza.
Around 1,200 people were killed in the Hamas-led terror attacks in Israel on October 7, 2023, and 251 people were taken hostage. The Israeli military, in return, killed more than 68,000 Palestinians in Gaza, with 170,000 wounded, and thousands more are believed to be buried under the rubble since the war began, according to Gaza's Health Ministry.
The health ministry figures indicate that more than 70 per cent of the victims are civilians, including children and women.
Also Read: IDF thwarts terror attack in Gaza, no casualties reported
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