Israel’s cabinet were set to digitally convene to approve the new outline for a hostage and ceasefire deal in Gaza in a vote held over telephone at 9:00 p.m. local time.
Tzachi Hanegbi told Channel 12 that the fact the negotiators believed their Friday meeting with Qatari, Egyptian, and US mediators warranted convening the evening war cabinet session “shows that they did not come back empty-handed.”
Israel can “work with” the new outline, an Israeli source told Walla on Saturday evening after reports broke of an agreement reached in negotiation held in Paris the night prior.
A new and updated outline for a deal to release the 134 remaining Gaza hostages was reportedly reached in a meeting in Paris between the representatives of the United States, Israel, Egypt, and Qatar.
Netanyahu’s ‘firm stance’ crucial to Hamas dropping demands – source
“Progress was made in Paris, but further steps are to be taken before a deal can be reached,” the source added.
Another senior source said that, while “we are still far from a deal, Hamas has given up some of its demands following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s firm stance.”
Hostage relatives organization Forum Tikva released a statement calling on Israeli decision-makers in the cabinet and the government to adhere to three rules set by the hostages’ families part of the forum.
“1. Do not agree to a negligent deal that would harm the state’s future, such that we might regret it in a few years.
“2. We must not separate hostages! A deal in which many hostages are left behind will sentence them to years in captivity and could bring them to their deaths.
“3. For there to be a good deal, military pressure on Hamas must be resumed, including halting of humanitarian aid which strengthens Hamas.”
Reuters contributed to this report.
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