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Potential Hostage Release Deal Reached Amid Ongoing Negotiations
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that a significant agreement concerning the release of hostages has been reached. This development comes as part of broader negotiations aimed at establishing a ceasefire in Gaza.
After delays in a cabinet vote originally scheduled for Thursday—which Netanyahu attributed to alleged last-minute demands from Hamas—his administration reported that the negotiating team had informed him of the finalized agreements early Friday morning. In light of this, Netanyahu has called for a convening of the political-security cabinet later that day, with intentions for the government to subsequently endorse the deal.
Official reports from Israeli media indicate that representatives from Israel, Hamas, the United States, and Qatar have formalized the deal during discussions held in Doha. The initiative for a ceasefire was first proposed on Wednesday by mediators from the US and Qatar.
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani stated that the ceasefire would take effect on Sunday, provided it receives the necessary approval from the Israeli cabinet. This assertion has raised expectations among families of hostages, who have reportedly been kept informed throughout the negotiation process.
Initially, while acknowledging the progress made, Netanyahu expressed that final adjustments were still underway and extended his gratitude to President Biden for facilitating the negotiations. However, he later expressed reservations, pushing back the cabinet vote and accusing Hamas of attempting to extract additional concessions at the last minute.
Hamas has publicly committed to the agreement, yet there are reports suggesting the group was seeking to include some of its members in the list of Palestinian prisoners eligible for release under the terms of the deal. Though negotiators from Israel have reached consensus on the framework, the execution of this agreement hinges on the approval of both the security cabinet and the broader government.
Source
www.bbc.com