A senior Hamas source tells Al-Mayadeen that the release of prisoners, including Hezbollah fighters, will be delayed until the second phase of the ceasefire agreement, with the first phase focusing on women,

The Government of Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire, with hostages to be released and humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, potentially ending the 15-month conflict. Following extensive negotiations, a truce between the parties has been established in alignment with the framework previously presented by the US in May.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hamas of backing out of a cease-fire deal to release hostages and end the war in Gaza, which has raged for more than a year.

Amid the background of the ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office on Friday said, “Prime Minister Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directed that the Security Cabinet be convened on Friday.

At best, it's a painful, and hopefully fleeting, surrender to theocrats that will save the lives of some hostages.

After fifteen months of conflict between Israel and Hamas, a cease-fire agreement has been reached. The deal is set to take effect on Jan. 19, just one day before President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration.

Dozens of Hamas and Hezbollah supporters took to the streets of Tehran on Thursday evening to celebrate the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas that could pause fighting in Gaza and release hostages.

The Biden administration called for a final push before the president leaves office, with many seeing the Trump inauguration as an unofficial deadline.

Israel ceasefire deal was mediated by Qatar and US on Wed, however, was in limbo for more than a day as Netanyahu said there were last-minute snags.

President Joe Biden and his top diplomats, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, had sought closure during his term.

Israel’s 15-month bombardment of Gaza has destroyed much of Hamas’s military wing. It has also degraded the Iran-backed proxy network that helps sustain the militant group.