Saturday, January 18, 2025 - Israel's security cabinet on Friday, January 17 approved the ceasefire and hostage deal with Hamas, after over one year of war meaning that the war could end by Sunday.
Israeli airstrikes in Gaza continued overnight Friday, with the
Hamas-run civil defense agency saying 113 Palestinians have been killed since a
ceasefire and hostage deal was announced Wednesday evening.
Israel's security cabinet met early Friday morning to discuss the deal
with the Israeli team that was sent to the negotiations in Qatar. The wider
group of Israel's cabinet ministers was initially scheduled to hold its
separate vote on the deal on Saturday, but it was brought forward to Friday
afternoon.
Preparations were underway Friday to welcome the hostages who would be
released under the deal at various Israeli hospitals.
At the Ichilov Medical Center in Tel Aviv, a private ward was being made
more comfortable, and a menu of special food was being prepared. The hospital
was setting up barriers for privacy. The plan was for the hostages to arrive by
helicopter.
At Sheba Hospital, plans were being made for a staff of specialists to
support the hostages arriving there, and fresh new clothes and toiletries were
being arranged for them.
Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu's office said Friday that,
subject to security cabinet and government approval, implementation of the plan
for the release of the hostages in Gaza and the exchange of Palestinian
prisoners in Israel could begin on Sunday.
The first phase of that plan would last 42 days and see a halt to the
fighting and the exchange of 33 hostages in Gaza for up to 1000 Palestinian
prisoners from Israeli jails. It would also see a drawdown of Israeli troops in
Gaza and a surge in humanitarian aid.
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