JERUSALEM, Israel – President Trump's Gaza ceasefire deal is going forward with a promise of a hostage release soon, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, many of whom are murderers, and a visit by the president to the region next week.

The Israeli government approved the deal in an overnight vote, and the ceasefire went into effect at noon, Israel time, on Friday.

"We fought during these two years to achieve our war aims, and the central one of these war aims is to return the hostages, all of the hostages, the living and the dead," Netanyahu stated.

Netanyahu met with Trump's lead negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner ahead of the vote. He thanked them for their work, and they praised the achievements of the prime minister and Israel's military.

Witkoff commented, "

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