Israel’s government has approved a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release plan proposed by United States President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed early Friday.
According to BBC report, the agreement, passed after a cabinet vote in Jerusalem, will see a ceasefire take effect early Saturday, 24 hours after approval. It marks the first phase of Trump’s 20-point peace plan aimed at ending the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Under the first phase, Israeli troops will begin a gradual withdrawal from Gaza, maintaining control over about 53 percent of the territory. The move is part of a three-stage pullback outlined in Trump’s plan.
The deal also includes a major prisoner and hostage exchange. Israeli hostages held by Hamas — both alive and dead — are expected to be released within 72 hours of the truce taking effect. In return, Israel will free hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including some serving life sentences.
The United States will deploy around 200 troops already stationed in the Middle East to help coordinate a multinational force tasked with monitoring the ceasefire. According to US officials, the troops will operate from Israel as part of a civil-military coordination center, with support from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey. No American troops will enter Gaza.
US Central Command will lead the monitoring operation and coordinate the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. A larger international stabilisation force may be formed later, depending on the success of the first phase.
Netanyahu called the agreement a “momentous development” and thanked Trump for what he described as a decisive step toward stability. Hamas’s exiled Gaza chief, Khalil Al-Hayya, said mediators and the US had assured him that “the war is over.”
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese welcomed the move, calling it “a breakthrough” and praising Trump’s leadership. “We have called for some time for a ceasefire and for the release of hostages,” he said, adding that attention must now turn to long-term peace through a two-state solution.
The ceasefire, which comes after months of fighting, is seen as a significant step toward reducing tensions, though key political and territorial disputes remain unresolved.
