After 15 months of devastating war between Israel and Hamas, a ceasefire deal has been reached, aiming to end the Israeli bombardment of Gaza Strip and release hostages held by both sides. The truce is expected to see the phased release of dozens of Israeli hostages captured during a 2023 terror attack, as well as hundreds of Palestinians detained by Israel. Additionally, hundreds of trucks carrying aid are expected to enter Gaza daily once the ceasefire is in place. The agreement outlines a six-week initial ceasefire phase that could start as early as the end of the week, pending approval from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security Cabinet and full Cabinet. The earliest the ceasefire could go into effect is Friday, but Sunday is more likely. However, there is uncertainty surrounding when the Israeli Cabinet will convene, with Netanyahu’s office accusing Hamas of creating a “last-minute crisis” by adding demands that contradict the agreement. Hamas spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri denied these claims, stating that the group did not back down from the terms of the ceasefire deal. Overall, the ceasefire deal marks a significant step towards ending the conflict and providing much-needed relief to the people of Gaza.
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