With less than six hours to go before the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas takes effect, Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that Israel reserves the right to continue fighting in Gaza if necessary.
The Israeli prime minister's statement comes as families of hostages held in Gaza brace for news of loved ones, while Palestinians prepare to receive prisoners.
The ceasefire takes effect on Sunday at 8:30 am local time.
In a national address 12 hours before the ceasefire was due to take effect, Netanyahu said the country viewed the ceasefire as temporary.
He also claimed he had the support of newly elected President Donald Trump, who told NBC News he told the prime minister to “keep doing what you gotta do.”
Netanyahu also claimed he had negotiated the best possible deal, even as Israel's far-right Public Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said he and most of his party would resign from the government if they opposed it.
Netanyahu previously warned that a ceasefire would not take effect unless Israel received the names of the hostages to be released as agreed.
Israel had expected to receive the names of mediator Qatar.
The Israeli prime minister said on January 18 that Israel reserves the right to resume fighting in Gaza with US support, while pledging to bring home all hostages held on Palestinian territory.
Hundreds of people took to the streets in Israel on Saturday evening to protest against Netanyahu's government
Protesters gathered on Tiger Street in Tel Aviv, holding Israeli flags, banners, posters and banners against Netanyahu and politicians in his government
There was no immediate response from Qatar or Hamas.
The Israeli cabinet's sudden approval of the ceasefire, at a rare meeting during the Jewish Sabbath, set off a flurry of activity and a new wave of emotions as family members wondered whether hostages would be returned alive or dead.
Families and thousands of others gathered again in Tel Aviv on Saturday evening.
“Please continue and save lives,” said Anat Angrest, whose son Matan Angrest remains held in Gaza.
The pause in the 15 months of war is a step toward ending the deadliest and most destructive fighting ever between Israel and the militant group Hamas.
The deal came under joint pressure from Trump and the outgoing administration of President Joe Biden ahead of Monday's inauguration.
The first phase of the ceasefire will last 42 days, and negotiations on the much more difficult second phase should begin just over two weeks later.
After those six weeks, the Israeli security cabinet will decide how to proceed.
The ceasefire takes effect on Sunday at 8:30 am local time
Netanyahu previously warned that a ceasefire would not take effect unless Israel received the names of the hostages to be released as agreed.
Israeli airstrikes continued on Saturday and Gaza's Health Ministry said 23 bodies had been taken to hospitals in the past 24 hours
In the first phase of the ceasefire, Israeli forces must withdraw to a buffer zone about a kilometer wide inside Gaza along the borders with Israel.
Protesters in Jerusalem have demanded a comprehensive deal that would free all hostages at once rather than in stages
Israeli airstrikes continued on Saturday and Gaza's health ministry said 23 bodies had been taken to hospitals in the past 24 hours.
In the first phase of the ceasefire, Israeli forces must withdraw to a buffer zone about a kilometer wide inside Gaza along the borders with Israel.
With most of Gaza's population confined to huge, squalid tent camps, Palestinians are desperate to find their homes, even though many have been destroyed or badly damaged.
In a message on
The Israeli military later said Palestinians will not be able to cross the Netzarim corridor that runs through central Gaza for the first seven days of the ceasefire, and warned Palestinians not to approach Israeli forces.
It comes as thousands of Israelis demonstrated across the country on Saturday evening, urging the government to fully commit to the hostage release agreement and ceasefire with Hamas.
Others rallied to denounce the deal with the terror group and expressed concerns about Israel's security.
The deal comes one year and three months after a war sparked by Hamas' October 7 attack on southern Israel, in which 251 Israelis were taken hostage by Hamas.
Israel's retaliatory campaign in Gaza has killed more than 46,707 people, according to data from the Ministry of Health in Hamas-run Gaza.
Protesters in Jerusalem have demanded a comprehensive deal that would free all hostages at once rather than in stages.
The deal comes one year and three months after a war sparked by Hamas' attack on southern Israel on October 7, which took 251 Israelis hostage by Hamas and killed another 1,200 people.
More than 46,707 people have been killed in Israel's retaliatory campaign in Gaza, according to data from the Ministry of Health in Hamas-administered Gaza.
