🔗 Share this article The Israeli Cabinet Endorses Agreement for Captives' Release as US Military Personnel to 'Oversee' Cessation of Hostilities Israel's cabinet has publicly endorsed a detailed truce deal that includes the return of all outstanding hostages held by the militant group in the Gaza Strip, marking a major step toward ending the devastating two-year conflict. American Armed Forces Role in Supervising the Ceasefire Senior officials in the US capital have stated that a American armed forces team of about 200 individuals will be deployed to the territory to "supervise" the cessation of hostilities after both Israeli authorities and the militant organization agreed to the primary step of the former President Trump administration's ceasefire proposal. His role will be to monitor, witness, make sure there are no violations. Immediate Execution Schedule Based on an Israel's representative, the halt in fighting should start immediately following cabinet ratification. The Israeli military was given 24 hours to retreat its troops to an pre-determined boundary. Afterward, the detainees held in the Gaza Strip would be released within 72 hours, a cabinet representative announced. Major Developments The militant group's overseas-based Gaza chief Khalil Al-Hayya said he had received promises from the US and other negotiating parties that the hostilities was concluded. The leader of the American armed forces' military headquarters, General Brad Cooper, would initially have 200 personnel on the site, a high-ranking American representative said. From Egypt, Qatari, from Turkey and possibly from the UAE defense personnel would be incorporated in the contingent, the US authority noted. A another official clarified that "American military personnel are scheduled to go into the Gaza Strip". Israel's attacks persisted in the time preceding the Israeli administration's decision. Detonations were observed on Thursday in northern Gaza, and a attack on a structure in the Gaza capital killed at least two persons and left more than 40 trapped under rubble, according to Palestinian rescue teams. At least 11 deceased Gazan residents and another 49 who were injured were brought at hospitals over the past 24 hours, Gaza's Hamas-controlled medical department stated. Israel was targeting locations that constituted a danger to its troops as they relocate, said an Israel's armed forces representative who spoke on condition of confidentiality. The militant group blasted Israel over the attack, arguing that the Israeli Prime Minister was trying to "shuffle the circumstances and disrupt" efforts by mediators to end the conflict. Twenty Israeli hostages are still considered to be surviving in Gaza, while 26 are presumed dead, and the whereabouts of 2 is unknown. Former President Trump leadership wider 20-point peace plan includes many unresolved questions, such as if and how Hamas will surrender weapons. But both factions appeared nearer than they have been in an extended period to ending the hostilities, which was triggered by Hamas's 7 October 2023 assault on Israeli territory, in which around 1,200 people were killed and 251 captured, prompting an Israeli response that has resulted in more than 67,000 Gazan residents dead and nearly 170,000 wounded, as per the Gaza Strip's health ministry. Israeli Defense Forces said an Israeli soldier, a 26-year-old reservist soldier, was killed in a militant sniper assault in the Gaza capital on the previous day late in the day. This occurred after Israel's and Hamas negotiators agreed to a arrangement in Cairo to ensure the return of the captives, but the halt in fighting component of the deal had not yet been implemented. Israel's media source Haaretz has published the identities of Gazan prisoners it believes could be released as part of the new arrangement. 250 Gazan inmates who are serving life sentences are projected to be freed as part of the deal, out of around 290 currently held in Israel's incarceration. 22 minors will also be freed. International Response There exist no plans for British or European troops to be in the Gaza Strip after the truce deal, the UK's top diplomat Yvette Cooper declared. "This is not our intention, there's no intentions to do that," she stated on Friday morning. The official added: "But there is an swift proposal for the US to head what is effectively like a supervision system to ensure that this happens on the ground, to monitor the process with hostage liberation, and also making sure that this first step is executed, getting the relief in place, but they have also made very unambiguous that they expect the troops on the location to be furnished by neighbouring countries, and that is something that we do expect to take place." Cooper said she expects the truce will be executed "without delay". According to the top diplomat, there are global talks on an "worldwide protection contingent" and the United Kingdom was carrying on to contribute in other manners, including considering securing commercial finance into Gaza. Civilian Response Israeli citizens and Palestinian residents alike rejoiced after the halt in fighting agreement was announced, while there was elation but also anxiety in Gaza amid worries the recent arrangement could fail.