An hostage and ceasefire deal has been reached between Israel and Hamas. Following intense negotiations and the resolution of last-minute disputes, senior officials confirmed to Israel Hayom: "There is an agreement."
The Diplomatic-Security Cabinet is set to convene tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. (Jerusalem Time) to approve the deal, followed by a government meeting. The IDF has announced that preparations for the hostages' return have been designated "Wings of Freedom."
President-elect of the US, Donald Trump, has stated that "We have a deal for the hostages in the Middle East. They will be released shortly."
Hamas signs "Yes" in writing
Beforehand, a senior Israeli diplomatic source disclosed that "the Israeli negotiating team was informed that the Hamas terrorist organization had decided at the last minute to present new demands—this time concerning the Philadelphi Corridor. These demands contradict maps already approved by the Cabinet and US mediators. Israel firmly opposes any changes to these maps." Israeli officials had been awaiting Hamas's response, following reports of a "breakthrough in the negotiations."
A Hamas official stated earlier that "the organization rejected an Israeli ceasefire proposal" but confirmed negotiations in Qatar are ongoing. An Egyptian source, speaking to media close to the Cairo regime, said a joint announcement regarding a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages would be issued soon. Meanwhile, Israeli officials reported that Hamas had given its written consent to the agreement.
The Israeli government secretariat is preparing for an expedited convening of the Cabinet to approve the deal's details, followed by a government session for the same purpose. After the deal's approval, a list of prisoners set for release will be published to allow time for petitions to the Israeli High Court of Justice. This process is expected to unfold over 24–48 hours, after which the first stage of hostage releases will occur alongside the implementation of the ceasefire.
