Jerusalem: Israel's security cabinet held a crucial meeting on Friday to decide whether to approve a deal that would release dozens of people held hostage by militants in Gaza and halt the 15-month-long war. If approved, the deal will be sent to the government for final approval before a ceasefire comes into effect. 

What did Netanyahu's office say?

Ahead of Friday's meeting, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office had earlier said there had been some last-minute hitches in finalising the deal. Israel delayed a security cabinet vote on Thursday, citing a dispute with Hamas as the reason for the delay in approval. However, an early morning statement appeared to clear the way for the security cabinet to vote on the deal. 

Understand the agreement

PM Netanyahu said he has directed the creation of a special task force to take in hostages returning from Gaza. The Prime Minister's Office said a ceasefire could begin with the initial hostage release on Sunday if the deal is finalized. Under the deal, 33 of the approximately 100 hostages remaining in Gaza are to be released over the next six weeks, in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. In addition, Israeli forces will withdraw from several areas, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians will be able to return to their homes, and humanitarian aid will increase. The remaining hostages, including male soldiers, are to be released in a second phase. 

What did Hamas say?

Hamas has said it will not release the remaining detainees without a permanent ceasefire and full Israeli withdrawal, while Israel has vowed to continue fighting until it has dismantled the group and established loose security control over the territory. Many questions about Gaza and its post-war future remain to be answered, including who will govern the territory or oversee the difficult task of reconstruction. 

Netanyahu is facing a big problem

The agreement has been met with strong opposition from Netanyahu's right-wing coalition partners, on whom the Israeli prime minister depends to stay in power. Israel's hard-line national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has threatened to quit the government if Israel approves a ceasefire. On Friday, Ben-Gvir wrote on X, "If this agreement is reached, we will leave the government with a heavy heart."

Fighting continues in Gaza

Meanwhile, fighting continues in Gaza, with Israeli strikes killing at least 72 people on Thursday. In previous conflicts, both sides have stepped up military operations in the final hours before a ceasefire to show strength. Hamas launched the war on October 7, 2023, with a cross-border attack into Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking 250 others hostage. Israel responded with a devastating offensive that killed more than 46,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials. More than half of the dead are women and children.