‘Ceasefire to begin only after cabinet approval’: Netanyahu’s office clarifies Gaza deal

Israel stops offensive operations in Gaza

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office stated on Thursday that the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal with Hamas will only take effect after Cabinet approval.
“Contrary to Arab media reports, the 72-hour countdown will begin only after the agreement is approved in the cabinet meeting, which is expected in the evening hours,” the statement said.

Earlier, Al Arabiya, citing Netanyahu’s office, reported: “We have stopped the offensive operations in Gaza.”

The announcement coincides with the initial stage of US President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan, aimed at ending the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Egypt’s state-affiliated Al Qahera News reported that the ceasefire came into effect at midday Thursday (0900 GMT), though Netanyahu’s office emphasized that the agreement will be formally implemented only after government ratification.

Netanyahu’s office: Deal must be ratified before implementation

While Egypt’s Al Qahera News reported that the ceasefire had already begun, Netanyahu’s office maintained that the truce would only take effect after government ratification on Thursday evening.

Netanyahu is scheduled to convene his security cabinet, a small group of ministers responsible for key defense, security, and foreign policy decisions, at 5 p.m. (1400 GMT). Meanwhile, residents in Gaza reported multiple airstrikes on Gaza City around the time the ceasefire was initially expected to begin.

IDF prepares for partial withdrawal

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that it has begun preparations for a partial troop withdrawal from Gaza as part of the hostage-ceasefire agreement. The military stated that, following political directives and situational assessments, operational adjustments were underway to support the implementation of the deal.

“Troops are being repositioned to adjusted deployment lines, but the IDF remains fully deployed and ready for any operational changes,” the statement said.

UN says food supply secured for three months

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) announced it has secured enough food supplies for the entire Gaza Strip for the next three months, providing essential support as the ceasefire process begins.

Trump and Netanyahu joint briefing

During a joint press briefing, President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the next steps of the Gaza peace plan and the timeline for implementing its first phase, which focuses on hostage release, prisoner exchange, and the gradual repositioning of Israeli troops in Gaza.

Trump announced that Israel and Hamas had reached an agreement on the first stage of the Gaza deal, involving the exchange of hostages and Palestinian prisoners, adding that “the swap is expected to occur within 72 hours of the deal’s implementation.”

Trump also claimed that Netanyahu had agreed to an “initial withdrawal line” from Gaza, suggesting it would pave the way for an “immediate” ceasefire once Hamas confirms the terms. Posting on Truth Social, Trump wrote: “After negotiations, Israel has agreed to the initial withdrawal line, which we have shown to, and shared with, Hamas.”

However, Prime Minister Netanyahu maintained that Israeli forces would not be leaving Gaza, despite the references to troop movements in Trump’s proposed peace plan. The plan, unveiled on Monday, includes a three-stage withdrawal map for the Israeli army to be carried out following the release of Israeli captives.

The map does not specify a timeline for each stage but indicates that, in the final phase, Israeli forces would move to a “security buffer zone” along the edge of Gaza.