Israel’s security cabinet are convening to discuss the Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal, according to an Israeli official. The Friday meeting comes ahead of a wider cabinet vote to approve the deal, expected on Saturday.
Earlier, the Israeli Prime Minister’s office confirmed that a deal has been agreed with Hamas to release the hostages held in Gaza. The agreement, which US officials expect to take effect Sunday, would see a pause in fighting in Gaza and lead to the phased release of hostages and Palestinian prisoners.
Israeli bombardments killed dozens of people in Gaza since the announcement of the deal, marking the highest daily death toll in over a week.
International aid agencies welcomed the deal and vowed to scale up their work in Gaza. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees called for “rapid, unhindered and uninterrupted humanitarian access” to the strip to relieve the suffering caused by war. (CNN)