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Netanyahu Announces Hostage Deal as Israel Prepares for Ceasefire Approval

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Friday that an agreement has been reached to secure the return of hostages held in the Gaza Strip, following earlier reports of last-minute obstacles in finalizing a ceasefire. The deal aims to pause 15 months of conflict and bring significant humanitarian relief to the war-torn region.

Netanyahu stated that he would convene both the security Cabinet and the government later on Friday to approve the long-awaited agreement. The arrangement includes a temporary ceasefire, the release of dozens of hostages held by militants in Gaza, and the exchange of Palestinian prisoners detained in Israel. Additionally, it will allow hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians to return to what remains of their homes.

Despite progress, Israeli airstrikes on Thursday resulted in the deaths of at least 72 people in Gaza. Earlier in the day, a vote on the ceasefire was postponed due to what Netanyahu’s office described as a last-minute dispute with Hamas over the terms of the agreement. Rising tensions within Netanyahu’s governing coalition also raised concerns about the deal’s implementation.

Israeli officials claimed that Hamas had attempted to alter elements of the agreement to secure further concessions. Specific disputes reportedly included the deployment of Israeli forces in the Philadelphi corridor, a narrow border area with Egypt. Hamas denied these accusations, with senior official Izzat al-Rishq reaffirming the group’s commitment to the terms of the ceasefire.

The agreement faces significant pushback from Netanyahu’s far-right coalition partners. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, a key figure in the coalition, has threatened to resign if the ceasefire is approved, reflecting deep divisions within the government.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty urged both sides to implement the agreement without delay, emphasizing the importance of avoiding further escalation. Egypt, alongside Qatar and the United States, has played a crucial role in mediating the deal.

As the Israeli government prepares to vote, the ceasefire offers a potential path to de-escalation in one of the region’s most prolonged and devastating conflicts.

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