The Israeli government has voted to approve a ceasefire deal with Hamas, the first stage of President Trump's plan to end the two-year war in Gaza which will allow for the release of Israeli hostages still held in Gaza and some 2,000 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a statement after the full cabinet meeting: "The government has now approved the framework for the release of all the hostages – both the living and the deceased."

After Israeli and Hamas negotiators agreed to the Trump plan at talks in Egypt mediated by Qatar, Egypt, the U.S and Turkey earlier this week, Netanyahu said he would immediately bring the agreement to his government to vote on.

With a ceasefire deal in place, Israeli forces inside Gaza will pull back from po

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