Gaza, Israel: ‘Ceasefire within 24 hours of government approval. IDF will maintain control of 53%.’

Milan, 9 October. (LaPresse) – A ceasefire will begin in Gaza within 24 hours of the Israeli Cabinet meeting scheduled for this evening. This was announced by Israeli government spokeswoman Shosh Bedrosian, explaining that a Cabinet meeting will be held at 5 p.m. local time (4 p.m. in Italy) and an hour later, at 5 p.m. Italian time, a government meeting will be held. ‘Within 24 hours of the cabinet meeting, the ceasefire in Gaza will begin,’ said the spokeswoman, adding that the IDF will then redeploy to a line that will allow the army to control and maintain about 53% of the Gaza Strip. After that, Hamas will have 72 hours to release the remaining hostages in Israel. Marwan Barghouti will not be released under the agreement reached between Israel and Hamas. Under the agreement reached in Egypt, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) will redeploy along a line that will give the army control and maintenance of approximately 53% of the Gaza Strip. The agreement provides for the release of hostages still in the Strip in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners. ‘I can tell you that, at this stage, he will not be part of this release,’ the spokeswoman said of Marwan Barghouti. Known as the “Palestinian Mandela”, Barghouti is serving five life sentences for planning attacks in which five Israelis died during the second Intifada.