Israeli airstrikes resulted in the deaths of at least 70 individuals in Gaza during the night on Thursday, according to local residents and authorities. This occurred just hours after a ceasefire and hostage release agreement was revealed, aimed at concluding 15 months of conflict between Israel and Hamas.

The intricate ceasefire arrangement was brokered on Wednesday through the efforts of Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, seeking to halt the hostilities that have severely impacted the coastal region and heightened tensions across the Middle East.

Set to take effect on Sunday, the agreement proposes an initial six-week ceasefire, during which Israeli forces would gradually withdraw from the Gaza Strip, a region that has seen tens of thousands of casualties. In return for the release of hostages held by Hamas, the militant group governing the enclave, Palestinian prisoners held by Israel would be freed.

However, Israel’s endorsement of the agreement remains contingent upon approval from the country’s security cabinet and government, with a vote scheduled for Thursday, as noted by an Israeli official.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused Hamas of introducing last-minute conditions and reneging on prior commitments. A statement from Netanyahu’s office indicated that the Israeli cabinet would not meet until mediators confirm Hamas’s acceptance of all aspects of the agreement. The implications of this latest delay on the deal remain uncertain. Meanwhile, senior Hamas official Izzat el-Reshiq affirmed the group’s commitment to the ceasefire agreement announced by the mediators on Wednesday.

Hardliners within Netanyahu’s administration continued to seek ways to obstruct the agreement, although a majority of ministers were anticipated to support it. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stated that his party would remain in the government only if Israel intensifies its military efforts until Hamas is completely defeated. Additionally, far-right police minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has warned of his resignation should the ceasefire be ratified.

DEMANDS FOR SWIFTER ACTION

Some Palestinians urged for a quicker execution of the deal. “We are losing homes every hour. We demand that this joy not be fleeting, the joy that has appeared on our faces—do not squander it by postponing the truce’s implementation until Sunday,” said Gazan resident Mahmoud Abu Wardeh. While celebrations erupted in Gaza and Israel, reports indicated that the Israeli military continued its operations, according to the civil emergency service and local residents. Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for the Palestinian Civil Emergency Service, reported that 71 Palestinians had died and over 200 were injured. The Israeli military is currently investigating these claims, as stated by a military spokesperson.

During a press conference in Doha, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani announced that negotiators are collaborating with both Israel and Hamas to facilitate the agreement’s implementation. “This deal will put an end to the hostilities in Gaza, provide essential humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians, and reunite hostages with their families after more than 15 months of captivity,” U.S. President Joe Biden remarked in Washington. His successor, Donald Trump, who assumes office on Monday, has taken credit for the progress made in Gaza.

It will be challenging for Israelis to accept the release of Palestinian militants who were serving life sentences for their roles in fatal attacks within their nation. However, numerous polls indicate significant public support for an agreement that would facilitate the release of hostages, even if it comes at a considerable cost. “This must be the only option we pursue to ensure our survival as a state and a nation, as we are willing to do anything to protect one another,” stated Chava Treitel, a resident of Jerusalem.

Israel has achieved significant advancements against Iran and its allies, particularly Hezbollah, as the conflict in Gaza escalated. While Hamas may have been weakened, the absence of an alternative governing body has allowed it to remain intact. If the ceasefire is successful, it will put an end to the hostilities that have devastated much of densely populated Gaza, resulting in over 46,000 fatalities and displacing the majority of the enclave’s pre-war population of 2.3 million, according to local authorities.

This development could also alleviate tensions throughout the broader Middle East, where the conflict has intensified strife in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Iraq, raising concerns about a potential all-out war between Israel and its primary regional adversary, Iran. With 98 Israeli hostages still in Gaza, the first phase of the agreement involves the release of 33 hostages, which includes all women, children, and men over the age of 50.

Humanitarian Aid Arriving at Gaza’s Borders

The agreement stipulates an increase in humanitarian aid to Gaza, with the U.N. and the International Committee of the Red Cross preparing to enhance their assistance efforts. The global response to the ceasefire has been overwhelmingly positive.

Following the incursion of Hamas-led militants into Israeli border communities on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 soldiers and civilians and the abduction of over 250 hostages, Israeli forces launched an invasion of Gaza.

Discussions regarding the implementation of the second phase of the agreement are set to commence on the 16th day of the first phase, which is anticipated to involve the release of all remaining hostages, a permanent ceasefire, and the full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.

The third phase will focus on the recovery of all remaining deceased individuals and the initiation of Gaza’s reconstruction, overseen by Egypt, Qatar, and the United Nations.