The Israeli Cabinet on Tuesday approved a Qatar-mediated deal in which Hamas will free dozens of Israeli hostages in exchange for a four-day pause in fighting in Gaza and the release of dozens of Palestinians held in prisons in Israel.
In the first phase of the two-phase deal, Hamas is expected to free about 50 Israeli women and children held in Gaza, while Israel is expected to release about 150 Palestinian prisoners, mostly women and minors over the four-day pause.
As part of the deal approved by the cabinet, Israel will allow around 300 aid trucks per day to enter Gaza from Egypt. More fuel will also be allowed in during the pause in fighting, according to an Israeli official.
In the second phase, Hamas could release dozens more women, children and elderly people in return for Israel extending the ceasefire by several more days.
The Cabinet decision came after more than five hours of discussions on the deal.
More than 240 people, including several Americans, were abducted during the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack.
Four hostages, including two Americans, have since been released, one has been rescued and two others were found dead.
Three ministers of the far-right Jewish Power Party were the only members of the Cabinet to vote against the deal.
Three ministers of the far-right Religious Zionist Party who threatened before the meeting to vote against the deal changed their position after hearing from the heads of the security services who recommended approving the agreement, a source with knowledge of the meeting said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at the top of Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting the war will continue after the hostage deal pause “until Hamas is destroyed, all the hostages are released and there is nobody in Gaza who can threaten Israel.”
He added that he had spoken to President Biden in recent days and asked him to help improve the deal. “It was improved so that it will include more hostages for a lower cost,” Netanyahu said. “President Biden helped and I thank him for that.”
Over the next 24 hours, the names of the Palestinian prisoners set to be released will be made public so that Israeli citizens can appeal to court against their release, according to an Israeli official who briefed reporters earlier Tuesday.
Israel will not release Palestinian prisoners who have been convicted of killing Israelis, the official said.
This article was updated.
