Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu briefed cabinet ministers on the ceasefire agreements reached with Iran during a meeting that extended until nearly 2:00 a.m., according to Kan11 News.
During the session, Netanyahu shared details of a recent conversation with President Donald Trump that helped advance the negotiations. He also urged ministers to exercise discretion in the media and wait for clearer developments on the ground. The cabinet was not asked to vote or formally approve the agreement, as the decision had already been made by Netanyahu in consultation with senior security officials.
Netanyahu announced that Israel had agreed to a ceasefire with Iran after the objectives of the military operation had been fully achieved. “In light of the achievement of the operation’s goals, and in full coordination with President Trump, Israel has agreed to the president’s proposal for a bilateral ceasefire,” he said.
Netanyahu emphasized that Israel had neutralized a dual immediate existential threat—both nuclear and ballistic. He also issued a warning: “Israel will respond forcefully to any violation of the ceasefire.”
A diplomat involved in the negotiations shed light on the behind-the-scenes efforts that led to the ceasefire. He explained, “President Trump told the Qatari prime minister, ‘I convinced Israel to agree to a ceasefire with Iran; now you need to convince Iran to do the same.’”
Vice President JD Vance managed the technical coordination with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani. In turn, Al-Thani engaged directly with Iranian officials, who agreed to the ceasefire terms. Meanwhile, Trump tweeted congratulations to the Qataris even before the ceasefire was officially announced.
The diplomat told Kan11, “Even though Qatar was attacked just hours earlier, they put that aside to finalize the deal.”
Earlier on Tuesday, Israeli and Iranian officials confirmed to multiple media outlets that the ceasefire, announced by President Trump, was brokered through US and Qatari mediation. Reports indicate that Israel agreed to the ceasefire on the condition that Iran refrains from further attacks, and Iran has signaled its intention to honor the agreement.
President Trump announced the ceasefire on social media Monday evening, outlining a phased plan that would begin with Iran halting hostilities on Tuesday morning, local time.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the announcement followed the Iranian missile strike on a U.S. base in Qatar—a widely signaled attack that resulted in no injuries or fatalities, amounting to minimal retaliation. Trump cited the advance warning and absence of casualties as a key factor in keeping the door open for a ceasefire.
Despite the announcement, fighting persisted past midnight. Iranian state media reported Israeli strikes on Tehran, while the IDF said it had intercepted drones launched from Iran. Residents of Jerusalem described the bombardment as intense.
Beginning at dawn Tuesday, missile alerts sent Israelis across the country rushing repeatedly to shelters amid renewed fears of further Iranian attacks. Those attacks resulted in direct hits on several residential buildings, the most devastating in Beersheba, where so far five Israeli civilians have been killed.
Three Iranian officials told The New York Times that the missile launches targeting Qatar were coordinated in advance with U.S. officials, who were given prior warning to prevent casualties. According to the officials, Iran sought a “symbolic response” — a calibrated show of force that would provide it with a face-saving exit from the conflict.
