Israel agrees to end brutal Gaza war after 734 heartbreaking days | World | News

The Israeli government supported a sensational ceasefire and hostage exchange agreement with Hamas; This regulation comes just days after the country commemorated two years since the horrific massacre on October 7.

Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration dropped the bombshell on Thursday, saying cabinet members had given their final support to the contentious deal after 734 days of brutal war.

In a dramatic statement, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office confirmed: “The government has just approved the framework for the release of all hostages (living and dead),” the Daily Mail reported. The news comes as Trump casts doubt on the disarmament of Hamas following the ceasefire in Gaza.

Far-right minister threatens coalition collapse

The decision failed despite fierce opposition from national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who launched a scathing attack on the regulation.

The head of the Jewish Power party had previously vowed to reject the deal and issued a devastating ultimatum that he could torpedo Netanyahu’s coalition government unless Hamas’ “rule is eliminated.”

“In recent meetings between me and the Prime Minister, I made it clear that under no circumstances will I be part of a government that allows the continuation of Hamas rule in Gaza,” Ben-Gvir said. he said.

“This is a clear red line. The Prime Minister has assured me that this will be the case.”

Troops will retreat while hostages return

The ceasefire will come into effect within 24 hours after the cabinet meeting, and Israeli forces will begin to withdraw from Gaza along a predetermined border.

The terrorist group will hand over the surviving and deceased Israeli captives within the following 72 hours. After returning home, Israel will release 250 Palestinians sentenced to life imprisonment and 1,700 Gazans detained since October 7.

The dramatic development followed Trump’s bombshell statement on Wednesday that Israel and Hamas had agreed on the opening phase of a ceasefire following days of behind-the-scenes negotiations in Egypt.

“All hostages will be released very soon and Israel will withdraw its Soldiers to an agreed-upon line as the first steps towards a Strong, Durable and Everlasting Peace,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

International leaders welcome breakthrough

Qatar, which arranged the agreement along with Egypt and Türkiye, described it as the “first phase” of the Gaza ceasefire agreement that would lead to an end to the war.

In the UK, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer praised the breakthrough as “a moment of profound relief that will be felt around the world”.

The arrangement brokered by Trump would see Hamas hand over all surviving captives, both living and dead, in exchange for approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. At the same time, Israeli defense forces will begin to withdraw from large sections of Gaza.

Emotional phone call with hostage families

The previous evening, the American president contacted the relatives of those imprisoned by the terrorist organization in a telephone conversation with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.

Lutnick asked families on Trump’s loudspeaker: “You have the best crowd in the world, what do you want to say to President Trump?” The entire group of about a dozen people responded: “Thank you!”

One of the family members said, “You did it!” Trump said, “Thank you very much, everyone.”

Cabinet meeting postponed due to prisoner list talks

The security cabinet session, originally scheduled to meet at 17:00 local time (15:00 BST), was postponed by several hours.

According to Channel 12, one of the factors behind the blockage was ongoing negotiations over the list of Palestinian security detainees to be released.

It is thought that a total of 48 prisoners are in prison in Gaza and 20 of them are still alive.

The American president claimed that he expected all captives, including those who lost their lives, to “return” on Monday.

Trump to visit Jerusalem when deal comes into effect

After Israel and Hamas announced that they had reached an agreement on a ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza, the Israeli presidential office confirmed that the US leader was scheduled to land in Jerusalem on Sunday.

In a statement made on Thursday by Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s office, it was stated that the event planned to be held on Sunday at the Israeli president’s residence in Jerusalem was canceled “in light of the expected release of the hostages and US President Donald J. Trump’s upcoming visit to Israel.”

“This decision was taken due to the security measures taken in Jerusalem after the visit and the historical developments that will take place in the coming days.”

Asked if his Middle East trip would include Gaza, Trump said, “I can do that.”

Agreement includes aid trucks and return of displaced persons

Relevant parties signed the final draft of the first phase this morning.

A senior Hamas official told AFP that Israel would release around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners: 250 of those sentenced to life imprisonment and 1,700 of those detained since the beginning of the war.

Another Hamas source said the swap was planned to take place within 72 hours of the agreement coming into force, which “was also agreed with Palestinian groups.”

The same source stated that 400 aid trucks will enter the Gaza Strip every day in the first five days of the ceasefire, and that the numbers will increase in the following days.

He added that the regulation also enables “the immediate return of displaced persons from the south of the Gaza Strip to Gaza (City) and the north.”

The senior Hamas official said the agreement envisages the “planned withdrawal” of Israeli troops and includes “guarantees from President Trump and mediators.”

Hamas wants full implementation

The terror group issued an official statement urging Trump to force Israel to fully implement the agreement and “not allow it to evade or delay implementing what was agreed upon.”

Netanyahu had announced overnight that he would convene cabinet members on Thursday to approve a plan for the liberation of the captives.

He said on social media: “With God’s help, we will bring them all home.”

The Israeli leader called the agreement “a diplomatic success and a national and moral victory for the State of Israel.”

The prisoner-for-prisoner exchange will take place within 72 hours of the Israeli government’s vote approving the deal, an official told the Daily Mail.

Coalition dissolved due to peace agreement

Although certain members of Netanyahu’s far-right coalition strongly oppose any peace deal with Hamas, Israel’s security cabinet supported the deal.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced that the far-right Religious Zionism party will not vote in favor of a ceasefire in Gaza.

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The previous evening, Trump declared that the world “coming together” helped forge a landmark agreement between Israel and Hamas.

The president hailed it as “a great day for the world” as he envisioned a prosperous future for the war-torn region.