The Israeli government ratified a ceasefire with the Palestinian armed group "Hamas", opening the way for an end to hostilities in Gaza within 24 hours and the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza within 72 hours, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
The Israeli government agreed to the agreement early on Monday, about 24 hours after mediators announced a deal to release Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, in the first phase of US President Donald Trump's initiative to end the two-year war in Gaza.
"The government approved the plan to release all hostages – the living and the dead," says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's profile on "Ex".
The speaker of the Israeli parliament has invited US President Donald Trump to deliver a speech in the Knesset during his planned visit to the Middle East, DPA reported.
Amir Ohana said it was "a great honor and privilege" for him to invite Trump to deliver a formal address to the nation in front of the Knesset.
"Israel awaits the president of peace," Ohana wrote in "Ex", calling Trump the 4th greatest friend and ally of the Jewish people in modern history.".
Trump indicated that he planned to travel to the Middle East "very soon", possibly on Sunday.
Israel and the Palestinian group "Hamas" reached an initial agreement on Thursday morning as part of efforts to end the conflict in Gaza. The U.S.-brokered deal includes the release of all hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli troops to an agreed-upon line in Gaza. The United States is sending about 200 troops to Israel to help monitor and enforce a ceasefire in Gaza as part of a team that includes partner nations, nongovernmental organizations and the private sector, U.S. officials said, according to The Associated Press. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details not authorized for public comment, said U.S. Central Command would establish a "civil-military coordination center" to coordinate the operation. in Israel, which will help facilitate the flow of humanitarian aid, as well as security and logistical assistance to the territory devastated by two years of war.
Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir warned troops in the Gaza Strip not to relax before the upcoming ceasefire, DPA reported.
"I ask you, while all of Israel watches the screens and celebrates the release of the hostages, to remain vigilant. The enemy is here – he has not disappeared", he said in a statement.
"Our work is not yet finished; we will not rest until we see the last hostage returned, the fallen buried and we ensure the security of the State of Israel."
Zamir described the current situation as "historic days" and praised the military pressure and ground operations that contributed to the conditions for the planned return of the remaining 48 hostages and the initial end to the conflict.
"We must manage the transition to a ceasefire in a sensible, professional and organized manner. The safety of our troops is at the top of the list of operational priorities," he said.
Israel and the Palestinian armed group "Hamas" reached an initial agreement on Wednesday as part of efforts to end the conflict in Gaza.
Israel's far-right Internal Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said his Israel Force party would push for the ouster of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu unless "Hamas" was completely destroyed, Reuters reported.
"If the "Hamas" government has not dissolved or tells us that it has dissolved while in fact it is acting under another guise, "Jewish Power" will dissolve the government," Ben-Gvir said before Netanyahu's government approved the Gaza ceasefire plan and the release of the hostages.
"The hearts of all of us are filled with joy at the thought that all the hostages will be released, but at the same time we must not forget at all what the price will be - the release of thousands of terrorists, including 250 murderers, who must be released from prison, is an unbearably high price," Ben-Gvir wrote on the social platform "Ex".
"I cannot vote in favor of an agreement that will free these murderous terrorists, and we will oppose it in the government," he added, just as the Israeli government voted in favor of the Gaza peace agreement, AFP reported.
The Palestinian armed group "Hamas" is ready to "freeze" the use of its weapons under the US peace plan for Gaza, but is not willing to give them up completely, Egyptian officials said, DPA reported.
"Hamas" has proposed to Israel to refrain from using its weapons for a period of five to ten years, Dia Rashwan, head of Egypt's State Information Service (SIS), said in an interview with Al Arabiya television.
The 20-point peace plan of US President Donald Trump's team includes a process of demilitarization of Gaza under the supervision of independent observers.
According to the plan, weapons in the region should be decommissioned through a negotiated disarmament process.
Rashwan explained that under the proposal, "Hamas" would hand over its weapons for the "freeze" period, but not to an Israeli or non-Arab organization. Instead, the creation of a committee composed of Egyptians, other Arab representatives or Palestinians could be considered.
The possible disarmament of "Hamas" remains one of the most contentious issues following the agreement on the first phase of Trump's plan.
Questions remain about how disarmament will be defined, who will control it, and under what conditions Israel will recognize it.