Israel ratifies Gaza ceasefire and hostage release plan

The country’s government has approved an “outline” of the deal, which includes a partial IDF withdrawal from the enclave

Israel’s government has ratified a plan for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all remaining hostages held by Hamas militants, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced on Friday.

The statement said the Israeli cabinet had approved an “outline” of the deal to release all hostages – living and dead – without mentioning other aspects of the ceasefire plan. Forty-eight Israeli hostages remain in Gaza, with only about 20 believed to be alive.

The plan, unveiled by US President Donald Trump in late September, gives the Israeli military 24 hours to pull back its forces to an agreed line, leaving Israel in control of around 53% of the enclave. Hamas is then to release all hostages within 72 hours, while Israel will free 250 Palestinians serving life sentences and 1,700 Gazans detained since 2023.

The broader 20-point ceasefire framework calls for a phased but full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the disarmament of Hamas, and the establishment of a transitional international administration.

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The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on social media that a ceasefire took effect at 12pm local time (9:00 GMT). According to the statement, Israeli troops have withdrawn to the agreed positions within the enclave, though the military said its Southern Command remains in the area and “will continue to remove any immediate threat.”

The Israel-Hamas conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led fighters attacked Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostages. Israel’s response has killed more than 67,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, and triggered a deep humanitarian crisis in the enclave, prompting the UN to accuse West Jerusalem of genocide.

Global leaders across Europe, the Middle East, and beyond largely welcomed Trump’s ceasefire plan as a pivotal step toward ending the conflict, calling for immediate humanitarian access and hostage releases. Several Arab and Islamic nations publicly backed the proposal and urged all parties to seize the diplomatic opening.

READ MORE: Top Hamas official announces end to Gaza war

Russia also supported the plan, with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov saying this week it was currently the best option to stop the bloodshed.