Israel’s Cabinet has approved a deal for a ceasefire, hostage release in Gaza

Update (1/17/2025, 3:20 p.m.):

Israel’s Cabinet has approved a deal for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of dozens of hostages that will pause the 15-month war with Hamas for six weeks.

The deal, agreed to early Saturday, brings Israel and Hamas a step closer to ending their deadliest and most destructive fighting ever. The ceasefire — just the second achieved during the war — is expected to begin Sunday.

Mediators Qatar and the U.S. announced the ceasefire Wednesday, but the deal was in limbo for more than a day as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted there were last-minute complications that he blamed on the Hamas militant group.

Original Story (1/17/2025, 10:50 a.m.):

Israel's full Cabinet was meeting Friday evening on the Gaza ceasefire deal that would pause the fighting and release dozens of hostages held by Hamas militants along with Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

Israel’s security cabinet hours earlier recommended approving the deal brokered by mediators the United States, Qatar and Egypt in months of indirect talks between the warring sides. This would be just the second ceasefire achieved in 15 months of war.

The prime minister’s office has said that if a deal is approved, the ceasefire could start Sunday with the first hostages released.

Under the deal, 33 hostages are set to be released over the next six weeks, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. The remaining hostages, including male soldiers, are to be released in a second phase that will be negotiated during the first. Hamas has said it will not release the remaining captives without a lasting ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal.

Israel’s offensive has killed over 46,000 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Health Ministry. It does not say how many of the dead were militants. Israel says it has killed over 17,000 fighters, without providing evidence.

Here's the latest:

Full Israeli Cabinet now meeting on ceasefire deal

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office says the meeting of the full Cabinet has begun on Friday evening. The Cabinet is expected to approve the ceasefire, which could start as soon as Sunday.

The ceasefire has drawn fierce resistance from Netanyahu’s far-right coalition partners, but their objections could destabilize his government. The full Cabinet meeting follows one by the security Cabinet, which recommended approval.

Israel publishes list of Palestinian prisoners to be released

Israel’s Justice Ministry has published a list of 95 Palestinian prisoners who are set to be released during the first stage of the ceasefire.

There are 25 male prisoners set for release, all under age 21, and 70 female prisoners. The youngest to be released are 16 years old. The prisoners were accused of crimes like incitement, vandalism, supporting terror, terror activities, attempted murder or throwing stones or Molotov cocktails.

One of the most well-known prisoners on the list is Khalida Jarrar, a leading member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine who has been in and out of Israeli prison in recent years. Human Rights Watch has called Jarrar’s arrests part of Israel’s wider crackdown on non-violent political opposition.

Israel’s Prison Services said it would carry out transportation of the prisoners instead of the International Committee of the Red Cross, to avoid “public expressions of joy.” The ICRC handled transport during the first ceasefire.

Lists of prisoners are published to also allow members of the public to petition Israeli courts against the release of a specific prisoner. Petitions can be submitted up until the prisoners are released, a Justice Ministry spokesperson said.

Israeli security cabinet recommends approval of ceasefire for Gaza; deal now goes to full cabinet

JERUSALEM — Israel’s security cabinet has recommended approving a deal that would pause the fighting in Gaza and release dozens of hostages held by militants.

The deal will now go to the full cabinet for approval before the ceasefire goes into effect. The prime minister’s office said that if a deal is passed, the ceasefire could start Sunday with the first hostages released.

The vote came after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said earlier there were last minute snags in finalizing a ceasefire that would pause 15 months of war. However, a pre-dawn statement Friday appeared to clear the way for Israeli approval for the deal.

The deal would pause the fighting and see dozens of hostages released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. It would also allow hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians to return to the remains of their homes in Gaza.