Israeli Cabinet Approves Major Hostage Deal, Multi-Day Ceasefire With Hamas
In a rare moment of positive news, Netanyahu’s cabinet has approved the hostage release and ceasefire deal which has been long in development in the early hours of Wednesday morning (local). Below are the developing details of the deal (in an official govt. statement), which will see a multi-day ceasefire take effect – the first of the more than one-month long war which has claimed over 13,000 Palestinian lives and over 1,200 Israeli lives:
“The Israeli government is committed to bringing all the abductees home. Tonight, the government approved the outline for the first stage of achieving this goal, under which at least 50 abductees—women and children—will be released over a span of four days, during which there will be a lull in the fighting,” the statement said.
“The release of every ten additional abductees will result in an additional day of respite,” it added.
“The Israeli government, the IDF, and the security forces will continue the war to return all the abductees, complete the elimination of Hamas, and ensure that Gaza does not renew any threat to the State of Israel.”
A prisoner swap is a key feature of the deal. According to Israeli media, “Israel also agreed to release Palestinian women and minors from prison and let them return to their homes, mostly in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.”
“Israel has avoided offering a specific number, but Hebrew media has placed the figure at 150,” writes Times of Israel. “A Palestinian Authority minister told Al Arabiya on Tuesday that 350 jailed Palestinian minors and 82 jailed Palestinian women would be freed in the swap.”
So clearly the deal has been structured (with Qatari mediation) to be extended based on how the initial phase of the captive/prisoner releases goes.
Further details as reported in Israeli media, and as Netanyahu cabinet votes on approving the Qatar-mediated deal:
- Government meets on proposed deal to release some 50 Israeli hostages over 4 days of ceasefire
- Deal provides for more releases later
- Palestinian prisoners to be freed, but not murderers
However, even if the deal does get approved, and it is expected to, Israel’s military is vowing this won’t hinder its goal of eradicating Hamas.
IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said Tuesday, “The goal of returning the hostages is significant. Even if it results in the reduction of some of the other things, we will know how to restore our operational achievements.” He said this means the IDF will still focus on eliminating Hamas.
This may be one of the first US criticisms of a mass-casualty strike in Gaza, but it’s still insufficient.
— Dylan Williams (@dylanotes) November 21, 2023
If a pause in fighting and release of (hopefully many) hostages is coming, @POTUS must use it to insist that Israel not resume bombing that even he called “indiscriminate.” https://t.co/51lCRmiqId
The White House this week issued rare, albeit somewhat tame, criticism of Israel’s bombing campaign…
