Israel’s security cabinet is set to approve a deal for hostages’ release and a ceasefire after 15 months of conflict in Gaza

This deal, announced by U.S. President Joe Biden and Qatar, aims to release many hostages and help calm the situation that’s been causing chaos in the Middle East and sparking protests worldwide.
The meeting came after some last-minute issues were reported by Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office, which had delayed the vote a day earlier. But a statement early Friday seemed to clear the way for the cabinet to move forward.
Netanyahu mentioned that a special team is ready to welcome the hostages back from Gaza, and their families have been informed about the deal. If everything goes as planned, the ceasefire could start on Sunday, with the first hostages being released.
The deal outlines that 33 out of around 100 hostages will be freed over the next six weeks in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians in Israeli prisons. Israeli forces will also pull back from several areas, allowing many Palestinians to return home and increasing humanitarian aid.
The remaining hostages, including male soldiers, will be released in a tougher second phase that will be negotiated during the first. However, Hamas insists it won’t release the rest without a lasting ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal, while Israel is determined to keep fighting until Hamas is dismantled.
There are still big questions about who will govern Gaza after the war and how to handle the massive rebuilding effort.
The agreement has faced strong pushback from Netanyahu’s far-right coalition partners, who are crucial for his government’s stability. On Thursday, hard-line national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir threatened to resign if the ceasefire is approved. He expressed his concerns on social media, saying that if the deal goes through, they would leave the government with a heavy heart.
While Ben-Gvir’s resignation wouldn’t topple the government or stop the ceasefire, it could create instability at a sensitive time and might lead to further issues if other allies follow suit.
Meanwhile, the fighting in Gaza continues, with Israeli airstrikes reportedly killing at least 72 people on Thursday. Historically, both sides ramp up military actions just before ceasefires to show strength.
The conflict began when Hamas launched a cross-border attack on October 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and taking 250 hostages. In response, Israel has conducted a fierce offensive that has resulted in over 46,000 Palestinian deaths, according to local health officials, who note that many of the casualties are women and children.