Gaza ceasefire signed as Egypt’s President Sisi confirms agreement to end war after two years

An agreement has been reached to implement a ceasefire and end the war in Gaza after two years of suffering, in accordance with US President Trump’s plan, Egypt’s President Sisi has confirmed.

The Gaza ceasefire will come into effect after Israel’s government ratifies the deal this evening, an official from Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said.

The Israeli security cabinet will meet at 3pm local time today to sign off on the deal, followed by a meeting of the government.

Twenty Israeli hostages expected to be released on Sunday or Monday

Israel expects 20 Israeli hostages to be released on Sunday or Monday, Reuters reports, citing an Israeli official.

Forty-eight hostages currently remain in Hamas’s captivity, 20 of whom are believed to be still alive.

Israeli media reports that Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law and former adviser Jared Kushner are expected in Israel tonight. The pair have been representing the US in the Egypt talks, which they joined yesterday.

Finance minister Smotrich voices opposition but stops short of resignation threat

The agreement on the implementation of the first phase of Donald Trump’s peace deal still requires approval from Israel’s security cabinet. One of its members has come out against the deal.

Bezalel Smotrich, the finance minister and one of the far-right agitators in the Israeli government, said he had “mixed emotions on a complex morning”.

Whilst he felt “immense joy” at the release of the hostages, he also felt “great fear” over the release of Palestinian prisoners, Smotrich wrote on social media.

“For this reason alone, we will not be able to join in the short, heroic celebrations and vote in favour of the deal,” Smotrich wrote.

He felt responsibility to ensure that Israel would continue on its mission to “eradicate” Hamas and “demilitarise” Gaza immediately after the hostages are returned.

Smotrich, who has repeatedly threatened to resign from the coalition government and trigger its collapse, stopped short of warning he will walk away.