JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said on Friday that the release of hostages held in Gaza since Hamas’ October 7, 2023 offensive on Israel is anticipated to begin on Sunday.
“Subject to the approval of the cabinet and the government, and the implementation of the agreement, the release of the hostages can proceed according to the planned framework, with the hostages expected to be released as early as Sunday,” according to a statement from the office.
Israel’s security cabinet was scheduled to convene Friday after finalising terms of a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release agreement, according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, with the US “confident” that the truce will begin as planned this weekend.
If accepted by Israel’s cabinet, the ceasefire agreement would go into effect on Sunday and involve the exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian inmates, following which the parameters of a permanent halt to the war would be finalised.
Aside from diplomacy, Israeli strikes killed dozens of people in Gaza on Thursday, according to rescuers, while Israel’s military claimed targeting approximately 50 sites across the enclave on the previous day. On Thursday, Netanyahu’s office accused Hamas of violating fundamental provisions of the deal in order to extract last-minute concessions, which Hamas disputed.
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