JERUSALEM, Oct. 9– Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday praised the new agreement reached with Hamas for the first phase of a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release and decided to convene his cabinet later in the day to approve the deal.
“A great day for Israel,” Netanyahu said in a statement, adding that the agreement includes the release of “all” hostages still held in the enclave. Of the 48 hostages remaining in Gaza, Israel believes about 20 are still alive.
“With the approval of the first phase of the plan, all our hostages will be brought home. This is a diplomatic success and a national and moral victory for the State of Israel,” he said.
The cabinet is expected to meet later Thursday to vote on the deal, according to the PM’s office. Several key members of Netanyahu’s far-right coalition, including pro-settler ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, have repeatedly voiced opposition to any agreement with Hamas and publicly called for the rebuilding of Jewish settlements in Gaza.
Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump spoke by phone in what Netanyahu’s office described as “a very warm and emotional conversation,” during which they “congratulated each other on the historic achievement of signing the agreement to secure the release of all the hostages.”
Trump announced on social media that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the “first phase” of his 20-point plan to end the war, and release hostages and some Palestinian prisoners.
“This means that ALL of the hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their troops to an agreed-upon line as the first steps toward a strong, durable, and everlasting peace,” Trump wrote.
“All parties will be treated fairly!” Israeli and Hamas delegations have been holding negotiations brokered by Qatari, Egyptian and U.S. mediators in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh since Monday.
Since the war erupted on Oct. 7, 2023, Israeli strikes have devastated the Gaza Strip, causing widespread famine and displacement, and killing at least 67,183 people and injuring 169,841 others, according to Gaza’s health authorities. (Xinhua)
