With only hours remaining before the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas takes effect, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reiterated that Israel retains the right to resume fighting in Gaza if deemed necessary. His statement comes as families of hostages held in Gaza anxiously await news of their loved ones, while Palestinians prepare for the release of detainees.

The ceasefire, set to begin on Sunday at 8:30 a.m. local time, is seen as a temporary pause in the ongoing conflict. Netanyahu, in a national address, emphasized that Israel considers the ceasefire as a short-term measure. He also claimed to have the backing of President-elect Donald Trump, who reportedly told Netanyahu to “keep doing what you have to do.”

Despite the ceasefire agreement, tensions remain high. Israel’s far-right Public Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, expressed opposition to the deal, threatening to resign along with other members of his party. Netanyahu had earlier stated that the ceasefire would not proceed unless Israel received the names of hostages to be released, as per the agreement. Israel had anticipated receiving this information from the Qatari mediator.

The announcement of the ceasefire was made after a rare meeting of Israel’s Cabinet on the Jewish Sabbath, intensifying emotions among the families of the hostages. As the ceasefire draws closer, questions remain about whether the hostages will be returned alive or dead.

Protests erupted in Tel Aviv on Saturday night, with demonstrators rallying against Netanyahu’s government and demanding the safe return of hostages. Families, such as that of Anat Angrest, whose son Matan Angrest remains held in Gaza, urged for the continuation of efforts to save lives.

The ceasefire deal, brokered under pressure from both President Trump and outgoing President Joe Biden, represents the first significant pause in the deadliest conflict between Israel and Hamas in over a year. The ceasefire’s first phase is set to last 42 days, after which negotiations for a more difficult second phase will begin.

In the meantime, Israel’s military has continued airstrikes, with Gaza’s Health Ministry reporting 23 additional casualties. In the first phase of the ceasefire, Israeli troops are expected to withdraw to a buffer zone along Gaza’s border.

Protests in Jerusalem have raised concerns about the stage-by-stage release of hostages, with some demanding a comprehensive deal for the release of all hostages at once. The ceasefire deal comes a year and three months after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, which resulted in 251 Israeli hostages and over 1,200 fatalities. In response, Israel’s retaliatory campaign has claimed the lives of over 46,707 people in Gaza, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-controlled territory.


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