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Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu says a deal to return hostages held in the Gaza Strip has been reached, after his office had said earlier there were last-minute snags in finalising the ceasefire.
Netanyahu said in a pre-dawn statement on Friday that he would convene his security cabinet later in the day, and that his full cabinet would gather to approve the long-awaited hostage deal on Saturday.
Negotiators from Israel and Hamas formally signed the truce on Thursday, a day later than planned, and there are concerns that the delay could push back the implementation of the ceasefire. US officials say they still hope for a cease in hostilities on Sunday.
Israel’s far-right national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has threatened to quit Netanyahu’s government if he agrees to the ceasefire, calling it a “reckless deal”.
Some protesters in Jerusalem have also rallied against the Gaza ceasefire deal, lighting bonfires and expressing their anger at what they say is an act of surrender.
But pro-ceasefire crowds in Israel embraced one another as news emerged that the momentous ceasefire and hostage deal had been agreed.
Alexander Butler17 January 2025 10:00
Alexander Butler17 January 2025 09:30
Israel’s security cabinet convened at 10.15am (8.15am GMT) to discuss the Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal, according to an Israeli official.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the security cabinet would meet following the announcement that negotiators had reached a deal in Doha for the hostages’ release.
Eight of the security cabinet’s 11 members are from Netanyahu’s Likud party. National security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and finance minister Bezalel Smotrich, two far-right coalition partners in the security cabinet, have openly opposed the deal.
However, Israeli media reported that Smotrich had reached an agreement with Netanyahu over the deal on Friday.
The wider Israeli government will vote vote to ratify the deal on Saturday ahead of the ceasefire’s expected implementation on Sunday.
Alexander Butler17 January 2025 09:18
Alexander Butler17 January 2025 09:00
Alexander Butler17 January 2025 08:30
Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich has come to an understanding with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the hostage-ceasefire deal signed with Hamas in Doha last night, according to Hebrew media reports.
The two reached an agreement over the far-right minister’s demand that the Israeli military return to fighting Hamas in Gaza after a temporary ceasefire and over the issue of control over humanitarian aid being transferred to the Palestinian enclave, according to Channel 12 News and the Walla news site.
Smotrich and his Religious Zionism party will vote against the deal but remain in the government as a result of the agreement, the reports say.
Last night, Smotrich’s fellow far-right coalition member Itamar Ben Gvir said his Otzma Yehudit party will quit the government if the deal is approved.
Far-right Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich has come to an agreement with Netanyahu, according to reports (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
Alexander Butler17 January 2025 08:19
The G7 has endorsed the US, Qatari and Egyptian ceasefire plan set to bring an end to fighting between Israel and Hamas on Sunday.
The group, comprised of Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Japan, Canada and the USA, urged “all parties to engage constructively in negotiating the subsequent phases of the deal.”
“We reaffirm our support for a credible pathway towards peace leading to a two-state solution where Israelis and Palestinians live side-by-side in peace, dignity, and security,” it said.
Alexander Butler17 January 2025 08:16
International Criminal Court Prosecutor Karim Khan has defended his decision to bring war crimes allegations against Israel’s prime minister, saying Israel had made “no real effort” to investigate the allegations itself.
He stood by his decision over the arrest warrant despite a vote last week by the US House of Representatives to sanction the ICC in protest, a move he described as “unwanted and unwelcome”.
ICC judges issued arrest warrants for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Israeli defence chief Yoav Gallant and Hamas leader Ibrahim Al-Masri last November for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Gaza conflict.
Israel has rejected the jurisdiction of the Hague-based court and denies war crimes. The United States, Israel’s main ally, is also not a member of the ICC and Washington has criticised the arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant.
“We’re here as a court of last resort and …as we speak right now, we haven’t seen any real effort by the State of Israel to take action that would meet the established jurisprudence, which is investigations regarding the same suspects for the same conduct,” Khan said.
Karim Khan has defended his decision to bring war crimes allegations against Israel’s prime minister (REUTERS)
Alexander Butler17 January 2025 08:15
French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Lebanon on Friday to help speed up the formation of a government that can quickly implement reforms and open the door to reconstruction following last year’s war between Israel and Hezbollah.
Since a truce brokered by France and the United States in November, Paris has played a key role in helping break Lebanon’s political deadlock, along with the United States and Saudi Arabia, that has now led to a new president and prime minister.
Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati received Macron upon arrival at Beirut airport. It was the French leader’s first visit since 2020.
As a former French protectorate, Beirut has strong historical ties with Paris, but the relationship has been complicated in recent years.
Alexander Butler17 January 2025 08:01