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"Israel is set to hold a meeting to finalize approval of the ceasefire agreement." |
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has postponed the cabinet vote on approving a ceasefire agreement, citing allegations that Hamas wants to make last-minute changes to the deal. The vote was scheduled to take place in the Israeli cabinet yesterday, Thursday.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has stated that an "unresolved issue" is being addressed and expressed confidence that the ceasefire would begin on Sunday.
Although Israeli representatives have spent months negotiating the agreement, it cannot take effect until it is approved by the government and the security cabinet meeting.
Meanwhile, Israel's cabinet is set to meet to give final approval to the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, Palestine. News agency Reuters reported this information on Friday, citing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office.
A statement from the Prime Minister's Office said that the mediators had informed Netanyahu that an agreement had been reached regarding the release of hostages. Before a full cabinet meeting for approval, a security-related meeting would take place on Friday.
The statement further emphasized that Israel remains committed to achieving all its war objectives, including bringing back all hostages—both alive and deceased. Families of the hostages have been informed about the agreement, and preparations are underway for their return. However, the statement did not specify whether the full cabinet meeting would take place on Friday or Saturday.
As per the scheduled timeline, the agreement is expected to take effect on Sunday.
On Thursday, the Israeli Prime Minister's Office claimed that Hamas had raised additional demands at the last moment, which could cause a delay in implementing the Gaza ceasefire agreement.
Last Wednesday, Hamas and Israel agreed to a ceasefire and a deal for the release of hostages and Palestinian prisoners, mediated by Qatar, the United States, and Egypt. The agreement includes an initial six-week ceasefire, during which Israeli forces will gradually withdraw. Several hostages held by Hamas, including women, children, the elderly, and the sick, will be released in exchange for the release of more than a hundred Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.
The United States, Qatar, and Egypt played a key role in mediating this ceasefire, which comes after 15 months of conflict between Israel and Hamas. The ceasefire agreement is set to take effect on January 19.
So far, Israel has killed 46,788 Palestinians in the war, with 110,453 others injured. The majority of the casualties are women and children. Nearly all of Gaza's 2.3 million residents have been displaced.
Sources: Reuters, BBC
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