A ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and Hamas is set to come into effect on Sunday (January 19, 2025) morning with a hostage release to follow hours later, opening the way to a possible end to a 15-month war that has upended the Middle East.

Israel’s security Cabinet approves of the Gaza cease-fire, which would pause the war with Hamas and release dozens of hostages.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken had said the U.S. wanted a ceasefire deal in Gaza and all remaining captives released before Donald Trump takes office on Jan. 20.

Preparations are intensifying for the start of a ceasefire in Gaza, and the release of hostages by Hamas and Palestinian prisoners from Israeli custody, with some gaps remaining just hours before the deal was set to begin.

The EU is prepared to redeploy a monitoring mission to the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt after a ceasefire deal to end Israel's war in the territory, the bloc's top diplomat said Friday.

The Israeli security cabinet finally on Friday voted to approve the hostage release-ceasefire deal with Hamas in Gaza. A statement by the prime minister’s office said the cabinet voted Friday afternoon with a recommendation that the government adopt it.