Israel is expected to approve the hostage release agreement this Friday, January 17, 2025.
The Israeli cabinet will meet to approve the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip and the release of hostages held in the Palestinian enclave, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Friday.
The vote postponed until this Friday
A vote initially scheduled for Thursday was postponed until Friday, on the grounds, according to the Israeli government, that Hamas made last-minute demands.
In the early hours of Friday, Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced in a statement that the deal would be approved shortly.
“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was informed by the negotiating teams that agreements had been reached on the release of the hostages”it was indicated.
Violent Israeli strikes on Gaza on Thursday
The security cabinet is due to meet on Friday before the government coalition led by Benjamin Netanyahu approves the deal, the prime minister’s office said.
It was not clear whether the government coalition would meet on Friday or Saturday, or whether the ceasefire, which is due to take place on Sunday, would be delayed.
-Intense Israeli strikes targeted the Gaza Strip on Thursday, and Palestinian authorities said in the evening that at least 86 people had been killed the day after the truce was announced.
Hostage release and humanitarian aid
Hamas is to release 33 hostages held in Gaza in exchange for the release of around 1,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel during the first stage of a truce agreement announced Wednesday and which takes effect Sunday, Qatari and US mediators reported .
“Phase one will last six weeks. It will include a complete ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from all populated areas of Gaza and the release of a number of hostages held by Hamas, including women , the elderly and the injured”, announced US President Joe Biden.
Israel had previously said it would release around 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in the first phase of the truce agreement in Gaza, Israeli and Palestinian sources reported on Tuesday. The 33 hostages are among 94 captives still held in Gaza since October 7, 2023, among whom 34 were declared dead by the Israeli army. According to the Times of Israel, Israeli officials believe they are all alive, but Hamas has not yet confirmed.
Humanitarian aid must also increase during this first period, which must allow negotiations with a view to reaching the second phase, namely “a definitive end to the war”said Joe Biden.
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