WEB DESK
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today confirmed that a deal has been reached to release hostages held in Gaza and to implement a ceasefire, following intense negotiations between Israeli and Hamas teams in Qatar.
The Israeli prime minister had convened a security cabinet meeting for today to hold a vote on the deal, with a full cabinet session to follow for official approval. As per media reports, PM Netanyahu was informed by the Israeli negotiating team that the deal had been successfully concluded, and he thanked them for their efforts.
The deal, which marks a significant step toward ending the 15-month-long conflict, will see the release of dozens of hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. PM Netanyahu’s office confirmed that the families of the remaining 98 hostages have been updated and preparations are underway for their return.
The agreement will lead to the phased release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and also see a pause in fighting in Gaza. The release of the first group of hostages, initially scheduled for Sunday, is now expected to occur on Monday, following the delay in cabinet approval. The vote within the Israeli government is expected to be contentious, with reports suggesting that some members of Netanyahu’s coalition government may oppose the deal, potentially threatening to resign.