Israeli security cabinet approves Gaza hostage-ceasefire deal

The Israeli security cabinet has voted to approve the hostage release-ceasefire deal with Hamas in Gaza.

According to a statement by the prime minister’s office, the cabinet voted Friday afternoon with a recommendation that the government adopt it.

The recommendation by the forum of top ministers was made “after examining all diplomatic, security, and humanitarian” aspects of the agreement, with the understanding that the deal “supports the achievement of the war’s goals”.

However, Bezalel Smotrich, the finance minister, and Itamar Ben Gvir, the national security minister, voted against the deal.

The deal, announced by mediators on Wednesday, is scheduled to take effect on Sunday afternoon.

A statement issued by the justice ministry said Israel is set to release 95 Palestinian prisoners—including 10 teenagers—on the first day of the truce, agreed to by both warring parties.

The first phase of the three-part deal is expected to last six weeks.

The number of prisoners scheduled to be released on Sunday includes 70 females and 25 males.

Meanwhile, since the ceasefire was announced on Wednesday, Israeli strikes on Gaza have killed 117 people and injured over 266, Mahmoud Basal, a spokesperson for Gaza’s Civil Defense, said.

Earlier on Friday, Hamas accused Israel of trying to thwart the deal through “deliberate intensification” of aerial attacks on the battered enclave.

A wider cabinet will convene for a vote on the deal later today.