Netanyahu Pauses Security Cabinet Meeting to Discuss Gaza Peace Deal with PM Modi: US-Brokered Ceasefire Agreement Approved

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu interrupted a security cabinet meeting to speak with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as reported by The Times of Israel. The cabinet was discussing a ceasefire and hostage release agreement under US President Donald Trump's 20-point Gaza Peace Plan.

During their conversation, PM Modi congratulated Netanyahu on the progress made with the Gaza Peace Plan. According to Netanyahu's office, "Prime Minister Modi congratulated Prime Minister Netanyahu on the agreement reached for the release of all the hostages."

Following the call, Prime Minister Modi shared on platform X: "Called my friend, Prime Minister Netanyahu, to congratulate him on the progress made under President Trump's Gaza peace plan. We welcome the agreement on the release of hostages and enhanced humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza. Reaffirmed that terrorism in any form or manifestation is unacceptable anywhere in the world."

The Israeli Prime Minister's Office also confirmed the conversation on X, stating: "Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu just spoke with the Prime Minister of India. Narendra Modi conveyed his congratulations to Prime Minister Netanyahu on the agreement achieved for the release of all of the hostages."

The Israeli government has voted to approve the ceasefire and hostage release agreement under Trump's 20-point Gaza Peace Plan, as CNN reported on Thursday. Netanyahu's office announced early Friday morning: "The government has now approved the outline for the release of all the hostages - the living and the dead," according to The Jerusalem Post.

Officials indicated that the ceasefire would take immediate effect. Steve Witkoff, US President Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, and Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, attended the Israeli government meeting in Jerusalem where the vote on the US-brokered deal took place.

With this approval, the Israeli government has greenlit "phase one" of the ceasefire agreement, which is expected to include an exchange of hostages and Israel's withdrawal from parts of Gaza, as reported by Al Jazeera.

Hamas chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya discussed guarantees received from the US that the first phase of the ceasefire agreement means the war in Gaza "has ended completely."

US President Trump announced on Wednesday that Israel and Hamas had agreed to the first phase of a peace plan to end the war in Gaza with a ceasefire deal that would include the release of hostages.

During a cabinet meeting at the White House on Thursday morning, Trump stated: "Last night, we reached a momentous breakthrough in the Middle East, something that people said was never going to be done. We ended the war in Gaza, and I think it's going to be a lasting peace, hopefully, an everlasting peace."

Trump added: "We secured the release of all of the remaining hostages, and they should be released on Monday or Tuesday. Getting them is a complicated process...I'm going to try and make a trip over. We're going to try and get over there. We're working on the timing, the exact timing. We're going to go to Egypt, where we'll have a signing, an additional signing. We've already had a signing representing me, but we're going to have an official signing..."

The US President also emphasized his administration's role in resolving global conflicts, noting that multiple wars had been brought to a conclusion during his tenure.