ANKARA

The Israeli Security Cabinet began deliberations on Friday to approve a cease-fire agreement and a prisoner swap deal with Hamas, according to Israeli media.

According to the daily Israel Hayom, the Security Cabinet convened under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss and approve the agreement.

The Cabinet includes 11 members, and two of them - Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir - are expected to vote against the deal.

Once the Cabinet approves, the agreement will be forwarded to the government for further approval, reported the daily Yedioth Ahronoth.

The exact timing of the government meeting remains uncertain with speculation that it might be delayed until Saturday evening. However, families of the Israeli hostages have called for the meeting to take place on Friday, stressing the urgency of the matter.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu stated that the release of hostages is set to proceed as planned on Sunday.

In a statement, the prime minister’s office said: “Pending approval by the Security Cabinet and the Government, and the agreement taking effect, the release of the hostages will be implemented according to the planned framework in which the hostages are expected to be released on Sunday.” 

Qatar announced a three-phase cease-fire agreement on Wednesday to end over 15 months of deadly Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip with the cease-fire set to take effect on Sunday.

Nearly 46,800 Palestinians, mostly women and children were killed and more than 110,000 injured in Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, according to local health authorities.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.  

*Writing by Ikram Kouachi