Israeli gov't approves Gaza ceasefire deal

The Israeli government on early Friday approved a ceasefire deal with Hamas to end the war in Gaza and secure the release of all remaining hostages.

"The government now approved the framework for the release of all the hostages -- both the living and the deceased," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a statement.

The deal gained enough votes, though pro-settler ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, among others, voted against it.

"The war will immediately end upon the approval of the Israeli government," the agreement read. "All military operations, including aerial and artillery bombardment and targeting operations will be suspended."

U.S. President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and the president's son-in-law Jared Kushner attended the government meeting.

Within 24 hours, the Israeli military will carry out an initial pullback to the so-called "yellow line", a reference to a ceasefire map released by the White House last month which outlines multiple stages of withdrawal. Israel will also allow humanitarian aid to flow into the Gaza Strip.

Under the deal, Hamas is to return 20 hostages believed to be alive and the bodies of 28 others within 72 hours of the Israeli withdrawal.

In exchange, Israel will free about 2,000 Palestinian detainees. The list includes some 270 prisoners convicted of various offenses, including attacks against Israelis, as well as around 1,700 Gaza residents held without trial who were not involved in the 2023 Hamas-led assault and are not considered militants by Israel. Among them are 22 minors under 18. Israel will also return the bodies of 360 Gaza militants.

The ceasefire agreement was announced earlier on Thursday after three days of indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas in Egypt's Red Sea resort city of Sharm El Sheikh, with the participation of the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Türkiye. Two years of relentless Israeli strikes have devastated Gaza, caused famine, and killed more than 67,000 people, according to Gaza health authorities.

Israeli gov't approves Gaza ceasefire deal

Israeli gov't approves Gaza ceasefire deal

Israeli gov't approves Gaza ceasefire deal

Israeli gov't approves Gaza ceasefire deal

The UN must resolutely defend the victorious outcomes of World War II and reject any attempt to revive militarism, said China's Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Sun Lei on Thursday. 

Sun made the remarks to the UN General Assembly (UNGA), following UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres who addressed the meeting on priorities for 2026.

Guterres emphasized the three principles that guide the world body's work in 2026: adherence to the UN Charter, peace with justice -- peace between nations and peace with nature, and unity in an age of division.

All nations must resolutely uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, said Sun.

"The UN must resolutely defend the victorious outcomes of World War II and uphold the post-war international order, firmly oppose unilateralism and hegemony, and reject any attempt to revive militarism," he said.

The Chinese envoy said countries must advance the three pillars in a balanced manner.

"Peace and security, development, and human rights are mutually reinforcing, and none should be neglected," he said.

He also stressed reforming and improving global governance. 

"China will work with all parties to firmly support multilateralism and the international system with the UN at its core, maintain peace, promote development, and advance the building of a community with a shared future for humanity," said Sun.

UN must resolutely defend victorious outcomes of World War II: Chinese envoy