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The Israeli government ratifies a ceasefire agreement that provides for the exchange of dozens of hostages held by Hamas with Palestinians in Israeli prisons. The agreement also provides for a halt to the 15-month war in Gaza, the Guardian reports.
Under the agreement, approved after a cabinet meeting that ended in the early hours of 18 January, the six-week ceasefire will take effect on 19 January. However, key questions remain, including the names of the 33 hostages to be released during the first phase of the six-week ceasefire and which of them are still alive.
"The government approved the plan for the return of the hostages," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said.
The agreement, which was earlier approved by the security cabinet, was reached despite an unexpected delay on January 17 that raised fears that last-minute disagreements between Israel and Hamas could scuttle the accord.
Far-right members of Netanyahu's coalition government have threatened to vote against the deal or quit the government, which could derail months of work to end the conflict.
The government announced the approval after 1 a.m. (Bulgarian time) on January 18, after a six-hour meeting of the entire cabinet that lasted well past the start of the Jewish Sabbath - a rare occurrence that reflects the importance of the moment.
At a separate meeting in Cairo, negotiators from Egypt, Qatar, the United States and Israel agreed on "all necessary measures to implement" the Gaza ceasefire agreement, Egyptian state media reported.
Itamar Ben-Gvir, Netanyahu's hardline national security minister, who announced on January 16 that he would quit the government if it ratified the ceasefire agreement.
According to Israeli media, Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich voted against the deal, while the other ministers voted in favor.
The Israeli Supreme Court is due to hear petitions against the release of Palestinian prisoners within 24 hours of the deal's approval, but is not expected to intervene. | BGNES
