Israel approves Trump’s plan for ceasefire and hostage release

[Twiglets1]

Israel's government has approved a ceasefire and hostage release agreement following a cabinet vote in the early morning hours of Friday local time.

The agreement is just the first phase of US President Donald Trump's 20-point peace plan, and there's still a number of sticking points to work out.

Here's what's expected to happen in this first phase:

1. A ceasefire in Gaza is expected to take effect early on Saturday, 24 hours after the deal was approved by the Israeli government.
2. Israeli troops will withdraw to a line giving it control of 53% of the Gaza Strip, a spokesperson for the Israeli prime minister's office said. This is the first of three withdrawal stages in Trump's plan.
3. The release of Israeli hostages - alive and dead - being held by Hamas will begin, followed by Israel's release of Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences in Israeli jails as well as detainees from Gaza.

1. The US is moving up to 200 troops already based in the Middle East to Israel to co-ordinate a multinational force which will monitor the ceasefire, according to US officials.

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cx2nzlj2j4kt

From the same source:

Ahead of the vote, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been accused of prolonging the conflict for political purposes, thanked US President Donald Trump for helping negotiate the deal.

Hamas’s exiled Gaza chief, Khalil Al-Hayya, said he had received guarantees from the United States and mediators that the war was over.

'ALL OF THE GAZA STRIP IS HAPPY'

"Thank God for the ceasefire, the end of bloodshed and killing," said Abdul Majeed Abd Rabbo in Khan Younis in southern Gaza. "All of the Gaza Strip is happy, all the Arab people, all of the world is happy with the ceasefire and the end of bloodshed."

Einav Zaugauker, whose son Matan is one of the last hostages, rejoiced in Tel Aviv's so-called Hostages Square, where families of those seized in the Hamas attack that triggered the war two years ago have long assembled.
"I can't breathe, I can't breathe, I can't explain what I'm feeling ... it's crazy," she said.

In Gaza, Israeli attacks continued before the official start of the ceasefire, but there were far fewer fatalities than the scores killed on a daily basis in recent weeks. Local health authorities reported seven dead in two separate Israeli strikes on Thursday.

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-hamas-agree-gaza-ceasefire-return-hostages-2025-10-09/

The Times of Israel report that the deal was opposed by National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, Negev, Galilee and National Resilience Minister Yitzhak Wasserlauf and Heritage Minister Amichay Eliyahu of the far-right Otzma Yehudit party.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Settlements and National Projects Minister Orit Strock of the Religious Zionism party also voted against the deal, although Immigration Minister Ofir Sofer, also a member of the party, voted in favor.

Addressing the cabinet, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was “about to achieve” the return of its hostages.

“We’ve fought during these two years to achieve our war aims,” said Netanyahu in English, alongside top White House aides Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. “A central one of these war aims is to return the hostages, all of the hostages, the living and the dead. And we are about to achieve that goal.”

The Pro-Palestinians really don’t seem to like this ceasefire.
I’m not sure that they want the war to end at all.
Maybe they see it as the wrong kind of peace?

Hamas have lost, Israel have won.

From the same source:

Far-right leaders have been critical of the deal, with Smotrich announcing on Thursday that Religious Zionism would not vote in favor. Speaking with The Times of Israel, a party source said that it remained up in the air whether or not the far-right faction would bolt the government.

Ben Gvir had also announced ahead of the cabinet meeting that Otzma Yehudit would vote against the first phase of the deal, in which Palestinian prisoners would be released in exchange for all 48 Israeli hostages held in Gaza.

Ben Gvir’s demand to veto the release of specific Palestinian security prisoners, including convicted terrorists, delayed the security cabinet meeting on the ceasefire deal as well as the subsequent vote of the entire government to ratify the agreement, according to Kan.

The ultranationalist minister sparred with both Kushner and Witkoff, asserting that they would not release terrorists like those being freed under the deal in the United States, the broadcaster reported.

“You can’t make peace with Hamas! They want to murder us,” he said.
In response, Kushner argued that “Hamas is isolated and deterred all over the world,” to which Ben Gvir shot back: “Would you make peace with Hitler? Hamas is Hitler.”

According to Channel 13 news, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir told the cabinet, “we’re world champions in being bitter” but “this is a great agreement.”

https://www.timesofisrael.com/gaza-ceasefire-takes-effect-as-government-approves-deal-to-free-the-hostages/

Thanks @Twiglets1 . You wouldn't expect that everyone in both political camps is happy with the deal as there is always hardliners that thrive off hate and conflict. (Gvir being one, I imagine Hamas have the equivalent).
It will be a task for Netanyahu to control these voices to ensure the ceasefire and deal is given time to work.

To be fair to them, some do seem happy about the ceasefire but a surprising number of them don't.

I think some are unhappy to be proved wrong about things they confidently predicted. Such as that Netanyahu would never agree to a peace deal because he was afraid of the repercussions for himself after the war.

I think all Hamas members are hardliners who thrive off hate! But yes, it's to be expected that there would have been some on both sides that argued for the war to continue.

Thank goodness those voices were overruled.

Yes I am wondering if the Palestinians or the pro Palestinians around the world will be happy with this. I suspect not.

Anyone who genuinely cares about the Palestinians suffering & dying in Gaza should be happy about this.

If they aren't happy then they don't really care about Gazans & only wanted a cause to feel angry about.

More than that. They want to see Israel destroyed. Nothing short of it will satisfy them. Luckily they have been sidelined in favour of those who want progress.

Yes agree with first line. And the rest. Good news on approval.

Palestinians and their supporters are celebrating the news of the ceasefire. There's pictures and videos of Palestinians celebrating in all major news sites.

It seems to me like some people would rather the Palestinians and their supporters NOT be happy just so they have another excuse to demonise as usual.

There will be SOME on BOTH sides who are not happy. They don't necessarily represent the majority. If they did then the deal wouldn't be going ahead.

No one said it was everyone 🤷🏼‍♀️

@Twiglets1 my comment was in response to this post which I believe is nonsensical.

Yes, I think that's a good point. So much hatred.
I am so pleased about this peace deal and from what I understand, it sounds very positive.
Like most reasonable and rational people on whatever side, I hope it means a lasting peace.

The IDF announced at 10am UK time (12pm local time) that the fighting has stopped, starting the countdown for Hamas to release the remaining hostages.

Brilliant. I'm trying to imagine how those families of hostages must feel. What a long wait.

They must feel so excited but so nervous at the same time. Hard to believe Hamas actually will release all the live hostages on Monday until it actually happens.

I really hope that they do. As I understand it, they're not allowed to parade them and have that performance they've done previously, so a dignified and safe handover should happen 🤞

That’s what I read too, that Hamas have agreed not to make a despicable show out of the hostage releases this time 🙏🏻

🙏

Just announced that the Rafah border crossing between Egypt & Gaza will reopen on October 14th and an EU mission to operate it will resume.

In a statement Guido Crosetto, the Italian Defence Minister, said he had authorised the resumption of Italian operations within the EU mission for the reopening of the crossing under the same conditions as in January.

Mr Crosetto also said that “approximately 600 trucks carrying humanitarian aid will flow into Gaza from other crossings every day”.

Good news about the Rafah Gate and, I'm assuming, the cooperation of the Egyptians.