Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced he will vote against the Gaza agreement, stating Hamas must be destroyed after hostages are returned, as celebrations for the newly agreed hostage release and ceasefire deal erupted in Gaza City streets overnight. French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the agreement reached overnight for the release of hostages and the ceasefire in Gaza, commending the efforts of U.S. President Donald Trump and Qatari, Egyptian, and Turkish mediators, and called on all parties to strictly uphold its terms. Macron stated France stands ready to contribute to ending the war and beginning a political solution based on the two-state solution, with discussions planned for this afternoon in Paris with international partners. The agreement, described by Israeli analyst Amit Segal as a hostage release deal without an explicit phase two, involves an IDF withdrawal to a 53% line within Gaza while talks continue. Segal noted that under President Trump, Israel has previously resumed fighting when talks were deemed not genuine, but suggested this time might differ. He raised the possibility of Israel adopting a "Lebanese model," striking targets from the air when threats are detected beyond the international border, which he assumes President Trump will approve. Segal also mentioned the principle of Israeli withdrawal in return for demilitarization and dismantling, acknowledging Hamas's likely unwillingness to disarm. In Gaza, celebrations for the deal included chants of "Khaybar, Khaybar, ya Yehud — the people of Gaza will return," which has been described as an Arab chant calling to kill all Jews. Meanwhile, Smotrich reiterated his stance that the situation cannot be returned to what it was before October 7th. Reports indicate the current agreement is in the second phase of the so-called Trump plan, with American voices already discussing disarmament in Gaza, which Hamas and resistance factions are expected to reject. Separately, a list of 500 names, described as "fragments since 18 March 2025," was shared, including a combatant identified as Yusuf Mahmoud Abdul Ghanani Abu Al-Jabein, mourned as a "Commander in the Brigades of the Martyr Izz Ad-Din Al-Qassam." His mother and daughter were reportedly killed in the same incident. The report noted that deceased hostages would be released in stages, and Hamas Nukhba terrorists involved in the October 7th attack would not be among those released, according to previous reports from N12 News. Previous reports indicated that the Israeli Security Cabinet was scheduled to convene to approve the release of Palestinian prisoners as part of a deal with Hamas. Mediators had announced the finalization of terms for the first phase of a Gaza ceasefire agreement, guaranteed by the U.S., Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey. Under these terms, IDF troops were expected to withdraw to a designated line within Gaza within 24 hours of the agreement's signing, with Hamas not holding ceremonies for the hostage release and the Rafah Crossing opening for aid delivery. President Trump had previously assured hostage families of their loved ones' return, with an expectation that all Israeli hostages would be released by Monday, October 13th, 2025.
