The Israeli negotiating team returned to Israel from Doha early hours of Friday, according to Israeli media. Israel's political-security cabinet approved the deal in a meeting called by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shortly after. Final issues were resolved overnight before the initial voting. The full cabinet is set to meet on Saturday to approve the deal, according to NBC News.
Another statement from Netanyahu read: "The families of the hostages were informed a short while ago of the agreements by the Directorate for Hostages, Missing Persons, and Returnees in the Prime Minister’s Office. Additionally, the Prime Minister instructed the Coordinator for Prisoners and Missing Persons to coordinate preparations for the reception of the hostages upon their return to Israel."
The Israeli government is scheduled to vote on the plan on Saturday, and the release of the first three hostages held by Hamas will be pushed until Monday. This gives time for the victims of terrorists who are scheduled to be released by Israel in exchange for the hostages, time to file protests.
The agreement was supposed to be signed earlier, but the Israeli government officials said last-minute changes and demands by Hamas regarding the terrorists selected to be released delayed the final agreement.
According to the Jerusalem Post, the vote is expected to have significant opposition in the Israeli government. Three ministers have already pledged to quit, and several leaders have vowed that their parties will leave the coalition if the government if Israel does not continue its efforts to destroy Hamas.
Netanyahu’s office said in a statement, “The State of Israel is committed to achieving all of the objectives of the war including the return of all of our hostages, the living and the deceased.”
