By Miracle Ogunde
After the final details of a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal were ironed out, Israel’s security cabinet is set to meet Friday with the United States “confident” the truce would begin as planned this weekend.
This was revealed by a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.
According to AFP, if approved by Israel’s cabinet, the ceasefire agreement would take effect Sunday and involve the exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners
The Primer minister had delayed meeting his cabinet after accusing Hamas of seeking changes to the final agreement.
His office said early Friday a “deal to release the hostages” had been reached and he had ordered the political-security cabinet to meet later in the day.
At least two cabinet members have voiced opposition to the ceasefire, with far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir saying that he and his party colleagues would quit the government — but not the ruling coalition — if it approved the “irresponsible” deal.
Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich also opposes the truce, calling it a “dangerous deal”.
But US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who has been involved in months of mediation efforts, said Thursday he believed the ceasefire would go ahead on schedule.
“I am confident, and I fully expect that implementation will begin, as we said, on Sunday,” he said.
Away from the diplomacy, Israeli strikes killed dozens of people, Gaza rescuers said Thursday, while Israel’s military reported hitting about 50 targets across the territory over the past day.
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