Israeli cabinet to vote on ceasefire deal after Netanyahu says hostage agreement reached
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Israel's security cabinet will meet today to give final approval to a deal with Hamas for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office has said. A ceasefire deal which would see an end to Israel's 15-month war on Gaza was announced on Wednesday evening after months of negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian militant group controlling the enclave.
But on Thursday, when the Israeli government was expected to vote on the pact, Mr Netanyahu said there were last-minute snags for which he blamed Hamas - but which the militant group denied responsibility for. Follow the latest updates on the Gaza ceasefire deal.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player. In the early hours of today, however, Mr Netanyahu's office said approval of the deal - which aims to stop a war triggered by the 7 October 2023 attacks by Hamas which saw 1,200 people killed in southern Israel and about 250 people taken hostage - was imminent.
"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was informed by the negotiating team that agreements have been reached on a deal to release the hostages," his office said in a statement. Be the first to get Breaking News. Install the Sky News app for free. Mr Netanyahu said he would convene his security cabinet today and then the government to approve the agreement.
Iraqi PM frustrated with West's 'failures' over Gaza. Gaza ceasefire: How fragile is the deal?. Peace at last in the Middle East?. It was not immediately clear whether the government would meet today or tomorrow, or whether there would be anydelay to the start of the ceasefire on Sunday.
