welcome to a bbc news special programme on the gaza ceasefire deal which the israeli cabinet has approved this evening. it's the first phase of a a deal which, if implemented in full, will end the 15 month war in gaza. their meeting lasted more than six hours, with some ministers who threatened to resign arguing the agreement rewards hamas. the first hostages are due to be released as early as sunday. in return, israel says it will release dozens of palestinian prisoners. they include some detainees as young as 16. hamas will return 33 israeli hostages over six weeks. these pictures are from egypt where trucks are waiting to bring aid into gaza. under the deal israel will allow 600 trucks into gaza every day — that's 12 times more than at the moment. our international editorjeremy

bowen has this report this is the boy who lived. asad halifa, three years old. he is being looked after by neighbours in gaza city. crying. and that is his cry for help from the rubble the night before last. the night before last. he was strong enough to wave. he was strong enough to wave. the men had been about to the men had been about to abandon their search. abandon their search. and he was strong enough and he was strong enough to try to clear concrete dust to try to clear concrete dust from his mouth. from his mouth. the israelis killed asad's the israelis killed asad's parents, his baby sister, parents, his baby sister, aunt and uncle when they aunt and uncle when they destroyed the building a few destroyed the building a few lost his mother and father. hours after the ceasefire hours after the ceasefire was announced. was announced. the background buzz the background buzz is from an israeli drone. is from an israeli drone. miraculously, asad only miraculously, asad only had cuts and bruises. had cuts and bruises. he has been taken in by his he has been taken in by his mother's best friend. mother's best friend.

translation: this little boy translation: this little boy lost his mother and father. because a pilot flying a plane in the sky took a decision, and took away all the care he had. their neighbourhood, rimal, used to be the richest part of gaza city. 50 miles away injerusalem, the israeli cabinet ratified the ceasefire agreement.

that would send the message to the enemy that we are the rulers. benjamin netanyahu's coalition crisis is going to be of little importance to donald trump, who is always going to put the interests of his own presidency first, and he wants to re—enter the white house being able to claim, with some justification, that he was able to deliver a ceasefire that joe biden could not. now, longer term, the structure of the ceasefire could be a problem because it's over a period of weeks and months and it's in phases, and that gives plenty of time for events to happen that could be exploited by those who want the ceasefire to fail. outside the prime minister's official residence, supporters

of the hostages suspect netanyahu could be one of them. they say he prolonged the agony of hostages and all israelis by delaying a ceasefire for months. we lost too many people fighting. we lost too many hostages from israeli bombs. we lost too many people from killing by hamas. the situation in israel, the society, has become very, very bad. explain to me why the delay happened. shall i tell you the truth, what i think? i think that somebody in the government didn't want it, the situation, to finish, because of his personal position in his life. and who is that person? bibi. netanyahu, the prime minister? yes. on the posters, their lives before and after the october 7.

happy moments in the past, and the gaps left by the missing and the dead. for the families, the wait is an agony. for israelis and palestinians, the clock is ticking towards the ceasefire far too slowly. jeremy bowen, bbc news, jerusalem. joining me live now is paul scham, professor of israel studies at the university of maryland, who has decades of experience working on issues involving israel and palestine. thank you very much for your time. what is your reaction to the news the israeli cabinet has okayed this deal? relief but not surprised. _ has okayed this deal? relief but not surprised. i - has okayed this deal? relief but not surprised. i think- has okayed this deal? relief i but not surprised. i think many of us assume that trump poste make outspoken anger at the idea of the hostages still

being held at... idea of the hostages still being held at. . .- being held at... are you surprised _ being held at... are you surprised about - being held at... are you surprised about the - being held at... are you l surprised about the terms being held at... are you - surprised about the terms of the deal? is this is largely what you would have expected going back several months as the biden administration began trying to shape some form of ceasefire deal? h0 trying to shape some form of ceasefire deal?— trying to shape some form of ceasefire deal? no body should be surprised. _ ceasefire deal? no body should be surprised. there _ ceasefire deal? no body should be surprised. there were - be surprised. there were reports since may. it was very clear except for some details. this deal could have been had at least eight months ago. much has been made _ at least eight months ago. much has been made of _ at least eight months ago. much has been made of the _ at least eight months ago. much has been made of the pressures| has been made of the pressures and tensions within benjamin

netanyahu's coalition. do you think he has sufficient political support to see this deal notjust through its political support to see this deal not just through its first phase to a much longer term cessation of hostilities? it depends on his political strategy. it looks as if the far right will pull out, which would end his majority. however, the question is can you make a deal with any of this parties or he can pray to hamas leaders make some sort of

blunder and the ceasefire is off. then no—one, especially trump, will blame him if he goes back on the deal. find trump, will blame him if he goes back on the deal. and look at this from _ goes back on the deal. and look at this from the _ goes back on the deal. and look at this from the palestinian - at this from the palestinian perspective, we had leader of the palestinian authority suggesting the palestinian authority could play a role in gaza which at the moment it does not. is that something you think is viable? it does not. is that something you think is viable?— think is viable? it may be they -la a think is viable? it may be they play a role _ think is viable? it may be they play a role because _ think is viable? it may be they play a role because there - think is viable? it may be they play a role because there is i play a role because there is not anyone else playing. in the palestinian authority, it represents the palestinian people. in fact, they are

popular is in the single digits. there is no way they can come in except if there is no—one else to represent the palestinians. no-one else to represent the palestinians.— palestinians. thank you very much for _ palestinians. thank you very much forjoining _ palestinians. thank you very much forjoining us. - palestinians. thank you very much forjoining us. the - much forjoining us. the progress of israel studies at the university of maryland. president biden said this framework followed the precise contours of a plan he first introduced in may 202a.

as the press conference ended president biden was asked about which commander—in—chief can claim responsibility for the agreement. who takes credit for this, you or trump? who takes credit for this, you ortrump? i5 who takes credit for this, you or trump?— who takes credit for this, you ortrum? , . ., ., ~ or trump? is that a 'oke? thank ou. and or trump? is that a 'oke? thank you. and we have _ or trump? is that a joke? thank you. and we have that _ or trump? is that a joke? thank you. and we have that the - you. and we have that the president _ you. and we have that the president departed. - you. and we have that the l president departed. donald trump posted: prime minister netanyahu released a statement thanking both us presidents but mentioned the incoming president first. the statement in part reads:

both biden and trump's middle east peace envoys were in attendance for the talks in doha. taking the oath of office in just a few days, president elect trump will be the one tasked with implementing the ceasefire and hostage releases. andrew roth, global affairs correspondent for the guardian. i'm also joined by elise labott, edward r murrow press fellow at the council of foreign relations and founder of zivvy media. you are both welcome. let me start with you, what is your reaction to the news of this deal has been signed very by the israeli cabinet? i deal has been signed very by the israeli cabinet?— the israeli cabinet? i think it is welcome _ the israeli cabinet? i think it is welcome news. _ the israeli cabinet? i think it is welcome news. we - the israeli cabinet? i think it| is welcome news. we haven't waiting for an only for months but certainly over the few

weeks. we thought there was a little bit of a hiccup of the israeli cabinet approving it but nothing is really cabinet has approved it, we understand it will be implemented on sunday. we think it is a good first step. the implementation is going to be key and notjust the first few hostages that get out but certainly over the next few weeks it will be moving from that first phase to the second phase and beyond. it will be critical and unclear whether it will be able to be implemented.— whether it will be able to be implemented. what about you, and ou? implemented. what about you, and you? it _ implemented. what about you, and you? it is _ implemented. what about you, and you? it is extraordinary. i and you? it is extraordinary. the deal _ and you? it is extraordinary. the deal up _ and you? it is extraordinary. the deal up into _ and you? it is extraordinary. the deal up into the - and you? it is extraordinary. the deal up into the last - the deal up into the last minute, _ the deal up into the last minute, it was not really clear if the — minute, it was not really clear if the deal— minute, it was not really clear if the deal would actually be sealed _ if the deal would actually be sealed. i think the information coming — sealed. i think the information coming out that it was the product _ coming out that it was the product of a combination of both— product of a combination of both the _ product of a combination of both the trump administration and biden administration working together to a certain degree _ working together to a certain degree. that they were able to

work_ degree. that they were able to work together despite the fact there — work together despite the fact there is— work together despite the fact there is a lot of hostility between the teams originally. very— between the teams originally. very surprising for everybody. ithink— very surprising for everybody. i think the _ very surprising for everybody. i think the deal and the fact it is— i think the deal and the fact it is at— i think the deal and the fact it is at least a now is quite important. it is at least a now is quite important-— it is at least a now is quite imortant. ., ., . . important. not a coincidence this has happened _ important. not a coincidence this has happened just - important. not a coincidence this has happened just days| this has happened just days before donald trump has taken office. is this evidence a better offer worse that he does change the equation by taking office of both the palestinians and israelis? i office of both the palestinians and israelis?— and israelis? i think it does. it is difficult _ and israelis? i think it does. it is difficult to _ and israelis? i think it does. it is difficult to imagine - and israelis? i think it does. it is difficult to imagine this| it is difficult to imagine this deal— it is difficult to imagine this deal would have been sealed exactly— deal would have been sealed exactly at this time if we wait to see — exactly at this time if we wait to see more continuity going into— to see more continuity going into the _ to see more continuity going into the new term and the fact donald — into the new term and the fact donald trump came out and said there _ donald trump came out and said there would be all hell breaking out in the middle east if the _ breaking out in the middle east if the deal was unsealed at that— if the deal was unsealed at that point. it did add an x factor— that point. it did add an x factor to— that point. it did add an x factor to be talks and both sides— factor to be talks and both sides will admit that were soon degree — sides will admit that were soon degree. administration officials also say that he out officials also say that he out of the — officials also say that he out of the 10 _ officials also say that he out of the 10 cents to the dollar so they— of the 10 cents to the dollar so they could get it across the line and — so they could get it across the line and get the deal done. fact — line and get the deal done. fact of— line and get the deal done. fact of the matter is both sides— fact of the matter is both sides to _ fact of the matter is both sides to a certain degree admitted the other side did play— admitted the other side did play a — admitted the other side did play a part in what happened. this— play a part in what happened.

this is— play a part in what happened. this is months of negotiations that has— this is months of negotiations that has been taking place and ithink— that has been taking place and i think that framework along with— i think that framework along with that x factor is what pushed _ with that x factor is what pushed across the line. that framework _ pushed across the line. that framework is _ pushed across the line. that framework is now _ pushed across the line. that framework is now in - pushed across the line. that framework is now in place i pushed across the line. trust framework is now in place and been agreed by both sides. what do you think the americans need to do in terms of planning beyond the six weeks? even beyond the six weeks? even beyond a ceasefire for something more long—term and sustainable for both the palestinians and israelis. i thought it was pretty remarkable when you heard secretary of state lincoln final remarks. i agree with andrew. i don't think it matters who takes the credit or gets most credit, both sides work together, both admitted that, it was the biden administration that laid out the plan and certainly there was the trump factor, the trump effect as well as the new equation in the region with a hezbollah weekend, hamas

weekend, all of the military action israel has launched in reshaping the battlefield and region really left him a snack isolated but certainly trump is coming in. he is pretty clearly does not want this on his plate. he certainly has unstable environment and if you look, antony blinken should have gave that speech months ago. not only do you see a lot of the fighting and hostages released, they need to be that they after in gaza. what is going to happen. we have to get palestinian governments in there, talks about whether it should be the pa or another entity whether there should be a un entity, i think stability in gaza will be really important and also humanitarian component and making sure that ada gets through. that will be key in keeping the area calm and making sure there are no violations because any little

violation, you will see the israelis launch more attacks and the other hostages won't get home. and the other hostages won't get home-— get home. the palestinian authority _ get home. the palestinian authority led _ get home. the palestinian authority led by _ get home. the palestinian authority led by mum - get home. the palestinian authority led by mum at i get home. the palestinian authority led by mum at a | get home. the palestinian - authority led by mum at a bus, interesting referencing the speech and how it should have been done months ago. do you think the biden administration deserves criticism for not being more direct and what is required from both sides in order to move the situation beyond the conflict? incidentally enter the conversation and fact of the matter— conversation and fact of the matter is— conversation and fact of the matter is there are a lot of questions about why the biden ministration could not have put more _ ministration could not have put more pressure on benjamin netanyahu and on the israeli government during negotiations as well — government during negotiations as well. with all members of the state department already resigned over this. the state department already resigned overthis. design the state department already resigned over this. design of the question of whether or not the question of whether or not the us— the question of whether or not the us should have withheld aid or other— the us should have withheld aid or other weaponry to israel as well — or other weaponry to israel as well and _ or other weaponry to israel as well. and fact of the matter is there — well. and fact of the matter is there is— well. and fact of the matter is there is a _ well. and fact of the matter is there is a question that trump has put — there is a question that trump has put into sharper relief

which _ has put into sharper relief which is _ has put into sharper relief which is if that kind of arm—twisting has been put in earlier— arm—twisting has been put in earlier on— arm—twisting has been put in earlier on during this process, would — earlier on during this process, would it— earlier on during this process, would it have been easier to move — would it have been easier to move the _ would it have been easier to move the israelis closer to the table — move the israelis closer to the table as— move the israelis closer to the table as well? the biden administration, one of the ways the are — administration, one of the ways the are combating criticism both— the are combating criticism both publicly and privately, they— both publicly and privately, they say basically how must make — they say basically how must make in— they say basically how must make in every case was the main reason _ make in every case was the main reason why— make in every case was the main reason why they could not get a deal— reason why they could not get a deal done. back to the mother is a lot— deal done. back to the mother is a lot of— deal done. back to the mother is a lot of questions remain about— is a lot of questions remain about whether more pressure could — about whether more pressure could have been put on benjamin netanyahu and whether that speech— netanyahu and whether that speech could have been given earlier— speech could have been given earlier on— speech could have been given earlier on as well. can speech could have been given earlier on as well.— earlier on as well. can i add, they were — earlier on as well. can i add, they were so _ earlier on as well. can i add, they were so much _ earlier on as well. can i add, they were so much criticism | earlier on as well. can i add, i they were so much criticism of they were so much criticism of the israeli government in that speech. certainly there was obviously, hearts launched october seven, obviously, hearts launched octoberseven, put obviously, hearts launched october seven, put this all into play, kind of cause initially as everyone would agree what happened since. at

the same time if there was so much dripping criticism for the israeli government walking up a door, as andrew said, would this have been able to be a little implemented, implemented a little earlier, if they were to put that criticism to israel. i'm sure they did some of it in private but as many people have said, the biden administration gave israel everything administration gave israel everythin