Israel to convene war cabinet amid growing signs of hostage deal

In light of mounting indications that a deal to free the hostages who were kidnapped by Hamas militants and brought to the Gaza Strip over six weeks ago may soon be reached, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called a meeting of his military cabinet on Tuesday.

“We are moving forward. Without going into any detail, Netanyahu told the reservists, “I don’t think it’s worth saying too much, not at least not right now, but I hope there will be good news soon.”

“In light of developments in the matter of the release of our hostages,” his office announced, he would meet with his war cabinet at 6 p.m. (1600 GMT), and then with his larger security cabinet and the entire cabinet.

When the entire cabinet convenes at 8 p.m. (1800 GMT), two far-right members of Netanyahu’s administration declared they would vote against the agreement, though it was not anticipated that they would sway the outcome.

For days, rumours of an impending hostage exchange have circulated. According to Israel’s count, during Hamas’ Oct. 7 incursion into Israel that resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people, the organisation grabbed roughly 240 captives, including children and elderly individuals.

Netanyahu’s office announced it was calling a meeting of the directors general of all key government departments to plan for the treatment and assistance of the captives, indicating it expected them to return shortly.

According to a U.S. official briefed on the talks mediated by Qatar, the agreement calls for the exchange of 150 Palestinian inmates for 50 hostages, the majority of whom are women and children, and a four- to five-day ceasefire.

Maintaining military pressure is the best approach to get a favourable agreement, according to Bezalel Smotrich, the finance minister, and Itamar Ben-Gvir, the minister of national security, the two far-right members of Netanyahu’s government.

(With agency inputs)