Israel supported the cease-fire agreement in Gaza

Israel has approved a preliminary text of an agreement on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of hostages. Now the Hamas militants must agree to this agreement.

This was reported by RBC-Ukraine with reference to the Associated Press.

International mediators have been working for weeks to reach an agreement to suspend hostilities before the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan around March 10. The agreement is also likely to provide aid to hundreds of thousands of residents in the northern Gaza Strip who are at risk of starvation due to the fighting.

A senior U.S. administration official told the Associated Press that the day before the talks, Israel "more or less accepted" the deal, which includes a six-week ceasefire and the release by Hamas of hostages considered vulnerable, including the sick, wounded, elderly and women.

"The ball is now in Hamas's court, and we continue to push for that as hard as we can," the US official added.

Officials from Israel and Hamas have not yet commented on this information. And a senior Egyptian official told the Associated Press that mediators Egypt and Qatar are expected to receive a response from Hamas during talks in Cairo scheduled for March 3.

Author - Serhii Kolomiets, 03/03/2024