JAKARTA - The Israeli government says it is not easy to make a ceasefire deal and hostages with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, assessing it is important and hoping all internal government parties can accept the voting to be held today.

Palestinian militant groups Hamas and Israel reached a three-stage ceasefire agreement on Wednesday, after months of mediation with intermediaries Qatar, Egypt, and the United States.

Israel's acceptance of the deal will not be official until it is approved by the country's security cabinet and government, with a vote scheduled for Thursday, an Israeli official said.

However, the deal is expected to be approved despite opposition from some of the hardlines in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who repeated his criticism of the agreement on Wednesday.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog in a speech from his office called on the government to agree to a ceasefire deal of hostage-taking during the vote.

The President said he supported "the prime minister and the negotiating team for their efforts to reach an agreement."

The full Cabinet of Security and the cabinet, which is expected to vote on tomorrow's framework, must agree to an agreement "to bring home our sons and daughters," the president said, quoted by The Times of Israel.

"There is no higher Jewish value than bringing the prisoners back home," added President Herzog.

He further noted that many different elements in the ceasefire agreement and the release of hostages were not easy for Israel, but necessary.

"This agreement - if approved and implemented - will bring very painful, challenging, and terrible moments," said President Herzog.

"I respect and deeply empathize with the fear and pain caused by this agreement," he explained.

He further said, during more than a year of fighting in Gaza, "at the expense of a lot of blood, through enormous security, diplomatic and social efforts, we have created a moment of opportunity. We have to take advantage of it."

The president noted, for the families of the hostages, "hours and days are hell on earth. I call on all of us to show extraordinary sensitivity to all the families of the prisoners - including those who were devastated by this deal. I ask to specifically embrace anxious and grieving families, who fear their loved ones will not return to the first stages of the deal."

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said supporting a ceasefire agreement and the release of hostages was a "very difficult decision, but also a decision to be made."

"I want to be honest with you and be honest. This is a very difficult decision," Foreign Minister Sa'ar said in a speech to Jewish leaders in Sinagoge Agung Rome, Italy.

"When you decide to free so many terrorists, including killers, who kill Jews - and that's not the only dimension of the agreement - it's not an easy decision," Sa'ar said, adding, "but it was a decision that the Israeli cabinet had to accept."

Foreign Minister Sa'ar himself will shorten his visit and return to Israel soon to take part in the voting held today, according to a statement from his office.


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