Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has confirmed that a deal to release hostages has been agreed upon. After initially delaying a cabinet vote, citing last-minute demands from Hamas, Netanyahu was informed on Friday that an agreement had been finalized.
Representatives from Israel, Hamas, the United States, and Qatar signed the deal in Doha. Netanyahu has called a political-security cabinet meeting, after which the government will convene to approve the agreement. Families of the hostages have been notified.
The ceasefire deal, initially announced by US and Qatari mediators on Wednesday, is expected to take effect on Sunday, pending Israeli cabinet approval.
