Audio By Carbonatix
Israel’s government approved a Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal after deliberating for more than seven hours early into Saturday.
The vote clears the way for the first pause in fighting in months, and the phased exchange of hostages held by Hamas and its allies for Palestinian prisoners.
Israel says the agreement will go into effect at 8:30 a.m. local time (1:30 a.m. ET). Three female Israeli civilian hostages are expected to be released on the first day, according to two US officials.
In comments Saturday just hours before the ceasefire was set to begin, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the deal, but also said it could not move forward until Hamas supplied a list of the hostages to be released.
He said Israel reserves the right to resume fighting if the deal falls apart — and would have US backing in doing so.
Israel has maintained its bombardment of Gaza in the days leading up to the ceasefire, killing at least 122 people and injuring 270 others since the deal was announced on Wednesday, according to Gaza’s Civil Defense.
Latest Stories
-
Nearly 2,000 displaced, schools damaged as windstorm wreaks havoc in Gushegu
5 minutes -
Ghana’s Derrick Kohn to work under Marie-Louise Eta as she becomes first woman to coach men’s Bundesliga team
9 minutes -
Accra Open Championships conclude with strong performances ahead of African Championships
16 minutes -
Ghana to begin camping with 12 athletes after Accra Open Championships – Bawa Fuseni
38 minutes -
Anthony Joshua declines showdown with Tyson Fury but admits they ‘probably’ clash next
51 minutes -
Tyson Fury dominates Makhmudov, calls out Joshua next
1 hour -
I have supported highway authority financially to fix roads in my constituency – A Plus
2 hours -
US, Iran fail to reach peace agreement after marathon talks in Pakistan
3 hours -
ECG kicks off Phase Two of transformer upgrades at Lashibi; brief outages expected
3 hours -
Port crises loom as 11,000 drivers threaten four-day strike
4 hours -
A source of excellence across generations – Vice President Opoku-Agyemang lauds Mfantsipim
5 hours -
(Photos) Mfantsipim School launches historic 150th anniversary
5 hours -
Knights and Ladies of Marshall group backs Catholic Bishops’ stance on anti-LGBTQ+
6 hours -
Bright Simons: All the Filla in the Ibrahim Mahama/E&P – Gold Fields Saga
7 hours -
Monetise Idiocy In Ghana
7 hours