Israeli Cabinet approves Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal with Hamas

Israel’s Cabinet early on Friday approved a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip proposed by United States President Donald Trump, clearing the way to suspend hostilities in Gaza and free Israeli hostages held there, the Associated Press reported.

The decision came about 24 hours after Trump announced that Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas have “both signed off” on the first phase of the peace plan for Gaza.

The first phase of the peace deal includes a phased withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and an exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners.

In a social media post on Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: “The government has just now approved the framework for the release of all of the hostages – the living and the deceased.”

The government has just now approved the framework for the release of all of the hostages – the living and the deceased.

— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) October 9, 2025

Khalil al-Hayya, the head of Hamas’ negotiating team said that the group has received guarantees from the US and meditators that an agreement on a first phase of the ceasefire agreement means the war in Gaza “has ended completely”, Al Jazeera reported.

“We declare today that we have reached an agreement to end the war and the aggression against our people,” AP quoted al-Hayya as saying...

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