The Israeli Security Cabinet and the Prime Minister’s full cabinet voted in favor of a hostage deal and ceasefire in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated to his security council that he only intends to comply with the first phase of the three-stage agreement.
The proposed hostage release agreement and ceasefire between Israel and Hamas cleared its final hurdles. The Israeli Security Cabinet approved the deal on Friday. Netanyahu’s full cabinet voted to approve the agreement early Saturday morning in Israel. Tel Aviv did not immediately issue a statement.
Under the deal, fighting in Gaza will pause for six weeks, while Hamas releases over 30 Israeli hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian detainees. According to the agreement, Tel Aviv is also required to allow 600 humanitarian aid trucks into Gaza each day.
During the first phase of the agreement, Tel Aviv and Hamas are expected to engage in talks to hammer out the details of the pact’s second and third phases. If carried out to completion, the deal would see an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and the Strip’s reconstruction.
However, Netanyahu is already indicating that he only intends to allow the first phase of the agreement to play out. According to Israel’s Channel 12, the Prime Minister said during the Security Cabinet meeting that Israel will likely resume fighting after the first phase.
Netanyahu’s assurances that he would resume the onslaught in Gaza after six weeks was not enough to gain the support of several members of the Security Cabinet. A member of Netanyahu’s own Likud party, David Amsalem, joined far-right ministers from the Religious Zionism and the Otzma Yehudit parties in voting against the deal.
There is some concern that Netanyahu’s insistence the deal will not make it to the second phase could lead to its collapse. “Under the current conditions, there won’t be a second stage to the deal,” a foreign mediator told parties in Israel according to Haaretz. “Hamas won’t willingly enter into an agreement that will lead to its destruction. Netanyahu’s tactics are wrong and won’t bring the last hostages home or end the war.”
The most vocal opponent was National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir. In a last-minute plea for his fellow ministers to reject the proposal, he said, “Everyone knows that these terrorists will try to harm again, try to kill again.” He continued in the video statement, “I call on my friends in the Likud and in Religious Zionism [parties], it is not yet too late, we still have the cabinet meeting, we can stop this deal, join me, we can stop it.”
Mossad chief David Barnea came out strongly in favor of the deal. “We must pay this moral debt. This deal is ethically and morally the right thing to do. It is a humane deal. It includes mechanisms that will ensure our security,” he said.
Netanyahu caused alarm on Thursday when he delayed the Israeli vote on the deal, claiming Hamas tried to make last-minute alterations. While the vote was delayed, the ceasefire is still expected to take effect on Sunday with a pause in fighting and the release of three Israeli captives by Hamas.
Channel 12 reported that Tel Aviv only agreed to keep Sunday as the start date because it received significant pressure from the Biden White House.
Tel Aviv is planning to tightly control the public relations around the release of Palestinian detainees. “The commissioner of the Israel Prison Service, Kobi Yakobi, instructed that… to prevent public displays of joy in Ashkelon and other areas of Israel,” a statement from the Israeli prison office explained.
Since the ceasefire was first announced on Wednesday, Israel as stepped up its bombing of Gaza, killing at least 115 people according to Palestinian officials.
The United Nations’ Human Rights Council condemned Israeli continuing to bombard Gaza, stating “we are dismayed that shortly after the deal was announced, Israel continued bombing Gaza indiscriminately, killing Palestinian civilians despite expectations of calm until the ceasefire takes effect.”
Kyle Anzalone is the opinion editor of Antiwar.com and news editor of the Libertarian Institute. He hosts The Kyle Anzalone Show and is co-host of Conflicts of Interest with Connor Freeman.
The zionists will look for any excuse to resume bombing.
But, Trump did a good thing, it is a good start.
I agree, never mind what motivated him, as long as people reunite with their loved ones. Sure it could be better, we hope and pray it will get better.
Let Hamas stop firing missiles and returns its hostages,and them there will be no more bombing.
Once more, you're not listening to the Israeli government.
This reminds me of the first Reagan inauguration when the announcement was made that the American hostages were finally released. It kicked off the Reagan era on a positive, victorious note. The big difference of course was that tens of thousands of Iranian civilians didn't die as collective punishment under President Carter and all the US hostages survived their ordeal.
Anyone who has followed Israel and the career of Netanyahu know that the Israelis –forced into this deal– will attempt to break it at the first opportunity. However, we must not deprive the Palestinians of this ceasefire achievement. It cannot be overstated that a lightly armed guerilla resistance went up against America's military and Israel's savagery, confined to a 5 x 25 mile strip for 15 months and not only survived but reconstituted its forces to or surpassed Oct. 7th numbers. Ironically the 5% undetonated ordinance of the over 70,000 tons dropped by Israel is about 3,500 tons of munition to last a couple of generations. The captives will only be released by an agreement. Gaza has shown the world what it means to go up against all the odds and come out standing.
It remains to be seen how much of the first one part of the agreement beyond the inauguration will be implemented. To break the deal, the hopes and expectations, the devastation of breaking the hope and happiness of the Palestinian people to have their prisoners come home is unimaginable.
I hope at least that first part of the agreement will be honored and the Palestinians will be permitted to be happy and celebrate as much as the Israeli families the homecoming of their loved ones.
The last time Palestinian hostages were released, Israel dictated that it was a crime to celebrate, as it was support of terrorism, in their usual victimhood horseshit narrative.
Strange, other than your hope to celebrate, you offer no realistic hope for the deported masses of civilians in Gaza regarding their dire conditions of housing, food, prosperity, etc.
All has been said before, but I do recall how low Israelis can sink, there was an exchange of hostages before, a relative small number, and Palestinian family members were forbidden to show happiness to be reunited with their loved ones. Israelis could show it but not Palestinians, why not, how low and how sadistic can the Israelis fall? They beat the Nazis making them look like Eagle Scouts.
Other than hubris you offer nothing.
Hubris is a character trait of excessive pride or arrogance that leads to a tragic downfall.
Learn how hubris is used in literature, from Greek tragedies to modern
Sorry I hadn’t read this before making my comment.
The Israeli government is deranged.
I think that happens to all of us, I know it happens to me.
I gratefully accept your advice, because 'pride goes before a fall'. Of course, I always try to avoid arrogance, especially with regard to my modest knowledge of English. One of my life maxims is: always ready to acquire knowledge and skills without misusing them. I do not usually refrain from exercising moral courage and freedom of expression.
https://literacle.com/literary-pride/
https://ancient-literature.com/pride-in-the-iliad/
https://classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/nicomachaen.4.iv.html Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Book IV, Section, Paragraph 3, pride
We are all human, we are not perfect.
Tel Aviv is planning to tightly control the public relations around the release of Palestinian detainees. “The commissioner of the Israel Prison Service, Kobi Yakobi, instructed that… to prevent public displays of joy in Ashkelon and other areas of Israel,” a statement from the Israeli prison office explained. 1/16/2025
Can the Israelis be more cheap than that?
Prisoners must behave themselves.s.
Yes or else Israelis will rape them
With electrified steel rods while their population cheers.
Are you saying prisoners displaying happiness to be reunited with their loved ones are misbehaving? Are you out of your mind?
Are you out of your mind?
That has to be a rhetorical question because the answer is obvious.
You’ve seen this, wars?
THE HIND RAJAB FOUNDATION
https://www.hindrajabfoundation.org/
Heartbreaking and sickening.
But they are hunting war criminals.
Yes, it is rhetorical, I tried to help Jake to analyze what he said, maybe he was sarcastic. I noticed the little .s. at the end.
You’re a good man, Ashraf.
System Update • @SystemUpdate
“Every day we really felt that we were stripped of our
humanity.”
Palestinian journalist @AbubakerAbedW on how the people of Gaza have endured starvation, a lack of clean water and medications, the losses of countless loved ones-yet never gave up hope:
https://x.com/SystemUpdate_/status/1880613203312574792
Firing rockets doesn't mean light armament, but compared to the Israeli military capability it does. Probably due to insufficient contacts with Hamas or Qatar, neither the author's article nor your biased comment as a journalist provide the text of the ceasefire, statistics on the prisoners, hostages etc. agreed by the warring parties. The agreement, like the previous agreement, continues to have bad characteristics because it involves extortion with hostages as a war crime and no effort to achieve a lasting peace. The ceasefire agreement gives six weeks for both warring parties to recruit personnel, send personnel on vacation, expand war weapons production, etc., but not much change for the civilian population of Gaza (looting, renewing homes, relief supplies, etc.).
https://www.timesofisrael.com/full-text-of-the-hostage-ceasefire-agreement-reached-between-israel-and-hamas/
https://www.ajc.org/news/israel-hamas-hostage-deal-what-you-need-to-know
"We are all going to die, whether by cardiac arrest or an apache helicopter. I prefer apache." Dr. Abdul Aziz Rantisi
"Give me liberty, or give me death." Patrick Henry."
@binber:disqus you talk about the Gazans as if you care. Your pettiness is obvious. Because the post Shoah Israelis would never endure what they are doing to the Palestinians, it kills them deep inside to see the Gazans endure, celebrate and accept their fate with dignity and honor.
The resistance wouldn't have lasted a month if it was not in the bosom of its people. (That is why Israel does not distinguish between Hamas and civilians.)
And I don't know what you are talking about. You provided the text of the ceasefire and its here on MEE.
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-gaza-ceasefire-full-text-agreement?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Of course Hamas is not going to give all the information the Israelis are seeking so they can pressure their corrupt Prime Minister to make good on the deal that he signed. It is no worse than what Israel does to the thousands of prisoners it holds illegally. Looks like "Hostage Taking" does pay off. Who are you going to hold responsible for that "war crime?" The Hamas leaders Israel killed or The Israeli leaders that killed their own hostages?
@binber:disqus "The ceasefire agreement gives six weeks for both warring parties to recruit personnel, send personnel on vacation, expand war weapons production, etc."
I am willing to bet that the Israelis will tire out "vacationing" as you say before the Palestinians tire of resistance.
Finally, let this explain why loving death more than you love life is teaching life. Rafeef Ziadeh gave this powerful performance, niot yesterday, but 13 years ago.
WE TEACH LIFE, SIR
@warsrus:disqus@renatelittlejohn:disqus@warren_paine:disqus@robertscheetz:disqus@existentialdread:disqus@binber:disqus@disqus_Ua0lwP5eay:disqus
How much lack of self awareness does it take for one to indict the “bias” of others, while using the standard bearer of Zionist apartheid propaganda as “The Times of Israel” as proof?
That made me think of this
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WHJL5Eh9wZo
Yes,Hamas sacrificed tens of thousands of civilians and caused Gaza to be flattened, its people starving, maimed,and homeless. some victory.
1. Even the weak minded and defeated who measure success and failure in strictly materialistic terms know that Israel is the one who killed, starved, maimed and made homeless the defiant Palestinians.
2. While Israelis fall into despair, Gazans are celebrating. In the American city I live in Middle Eastern shops are giving out free kanafi in celebration of the ceasefire.
3. The resistance wouldn't have lasted this long without the support of its people.
4. "The insurgent wins if he does not lose; the counterinsurgent loses if he does not win."
5. Finally, in exchange for all that brutal, inhumane and cowardly slaughter, Israel a) lost its deterrence b) allowed for the opening of new fronts against (e.g., the Houthis and others) in future that will make Oct. 7th look like a trip to the candy store. c) irreparably demolished its reputation on the world stage –humiliatingly exposing its Shoah survivors and their descendants to allegations of genocide d) caused a crack in the "US-Israel Special Relationship" e) brought the BDS movement to its strongest position yet f) is facing its own youth expressing support for Hamas. g) I am sure you and others can think of more defeats….
Given the inhumane open air prison they were living in they saw no other choice but to resist. The Algerians lost one million lives and they were only 8-10 million. Good luck in blaming all that lost life on Hamas. They are only growing in popularity.
@warsrus:disqus@renatelittlejohn:disqus@warren_paine:disqus@disqus_5VTdHrdJht:disqus@robertscheetz:disqus@existentialdread:disqus@binber:disqus@disqus_Ua0lwP5eay:disqus
The United Nations’ Human Rights Council condemned Israeli continuing to bombard Gaza, stating “we are dismayed that shortly after the deal was announced, Israel continued bombing Gaza indiscriminately, killing Palestinian civilians despite expectations of calm until the ceasefire takes effect.”
Is this guy really that naive? I would have bet my life on Israel doing exactly that.
They are so phucking gentle in the wording too.
“Dismayed”
Another thing, wars, where is the UN’s final ruling? It has been an entire year of Israel slaughtering children and destroying everything, specifically saying out loud what the intent is, but they can’t come to a solid final conclusion of genocide yet?
What a pathetically impotent and cowardly group of people.
And no journalist ever asked one of the press speakers what more does it take before they call it genocide?
It is the murder of a nation, women and children, babies included. And they claim they don't have enough information to call it genocide. What more does it take? They are mass-killers and don't know what they do?
It would seem the definition of genocide is the main issue at hand. People being massacred on a daily basis must first have to be determined that they are indeed being massacred by genocide in order for anyone to do a god damn thing. Unbelivable.
What has been vocalized is blatant intent and fits the definition by the UN.
No doubt.
It all depends what unfolds. There are hundreds of different speculations floating around.
Regardless, what Israel has done the last year and a half and since 1948 cannot go unaddressed in the end. Some balance or universal justice has to be seen – otherwise the slaughter will start again after some time has elapsed.
… and now we see the incredibly shrinking Trump as all the hot air is released.
No matter what motivated him, at least he put his foot down to get his way, for the hostages and their family to reunite is all that counts, and I will be happy for them.
"for the hostages and their family to reunite is all that counts"
No. After all that Israel has done, those hostages no longer count for anything. They don't matter.
Israelis have no slightest right to complain of anything. It would be like allowing Hitler to complain of something, to justify the death camps.
Either human lives and freedom matter, or they don’t.
If the hostages don’t count for anything and don’t matter, neither does anyone else, including dead Palestinian children.
The hostages certainly are not "all that counts."
No lives should matter less.
Netanyahu and his band of monsters care about neither, in reality.
You are right, but the normal powerless people have to pay the price. As little as it is, when they come home they are faced by the reality of rubble. There are no words to describe it, it must be like being trapped in in the eye of the biggest hurricane imaginable.
The big tell?
Kushner's Saudi-backed fund doubles stake in firm financing illegal West Bank settlements
https://thecradle.co/articles-id/28507
https://x.com/Lowkey0nline/status/1880324884074832374
https://x.com/Lowkey0nline/status/1880325523580334575
Michael Tracey @mtracey
Netanyahu says Trump "emphasized" to him that the ceasefire is "temporary," and Israel will have "full backing" to resume the war in Gaza. He says Trump has decided to "lift all the remaining restrictions" on US munitions, allowing Israel to resume the war with "tremendous force"
https://x.com/mtracey/status/1880683156766110044
Israel will cheat, and cheat so instantly that the only question will be if they ever stopped killing for a single minute.
How many times will Israel be allowed to thumb its nose at humanity? I knew with 100% certainty that this "ceasefire" would be used by Israel to further anger people and add a new "motivation" to continue genocide. The videos of Palestinians "smiling and celebrating" were meant to goad Israelis into further hatred of the people being mass murdered. This reminds me of the "celebration" of Palestinian children shown worldwide after 911, which was actually a video recorded TEN YEARS earlier, after some children were given candy somewhere! "By deception thou shalt wage wars." As to the "mis proportionate" release of hostages between Israel and Hamas (Hamas releases less than 50 and Israel releases over a thousand), that's because Israel has so many more hostages than Hamas and always has!
Israelis – Not Muslims – Cheered in Jersey
City on 9/11
Glen Ford, BAR Executive Editor
https://blackagendareport.com/israelis-not-muslims-cheered-jersey-city-911
THE DANCING ISRAELIS: FBI DOCS SHED LIGHT ON APPARENT MOSSAD FOREKNOWLEDGE OF
9/11 ATTACKS
NEW YORK — For nearly two decades, one of the most overlooked and little known arrests made in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks was that of the so-called “High Fivers,” or the “Dancing Israelis.” However, new information released by the FBI on May 7 has brought fresh scrutiny to the possibility that the “Dancing Israelis,” at least two of whom were known Mossad operatives, had prior knowledge of the attacks on the World Trade Center.
https://www.mintpressnews.com/newly-released-fbi-docs-shed-light-on-apparent-mossad-foreknowledge-of-9-11-attacks/258581/
Certainly cannot be ignored…
This is a good start…. Yet, much remains for us all to do…