Israel’s security cabinet voted Friday afternoon to recommend the government approve the outline for the hostage deal after “understanding that the proposed deal supports the achievement of the objectives of the war,” the prime minister’s office announced.
The cabinet also added that a goal to the war following the hostage deal would “strengthening security in the West Bank,” Israeli media reported.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir voted against the deal. Likud MKs Dudi Amsalem and Amit Halevi also expressed their opposition.
“This is a disastrous decision,” IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi said, according to Maariv. “For the many who will be kidnapped in the future, the hundreds and thousands of dead and injured who will be affected by it, for all citizens of Israel, and for the political and security situation of the State of Israel for many years to come.”
The government meeting on approving the deal’s outline is expected to extend into Shabbat, after haredi MKs announced that they are willing to be at the meeting during Shabbat, Maariv reported.
Religious Zionist Party MK Simcha Rothman said, “The deal that is emerging is dangerous for Israel. It certainly does not look like victory.”
The first few hostages set to be released as a result of the deal will reportedly be released on Sunday.
Ben-Gvir’s plan to leave the government
Earlier, Ben-Gvir posted on X/Twitter, “If the ‘deal’ passes, we will leave the government with a heavy heart and I will leave an office in which I have invested all my strength for the past two years.”
“I will make sure that Netanyahu continues to be prime minister, but I will leave because the deal that was signed is disastrous,” he continued.
“It releases hundreds of terrorists with blood on their hands, who, upon their release, will seek to murder the next Jew. It allows the return of thousands of terrorists to northern Gaza with weapons – when their goal is to murder Jews. it harms Israel’s defense capabilities on the Philadelphi Corridor and undoes all the successes we’ve achieved in the war that cost us a lot of blood.”
Religious Services Minister Michael Malkieli (Shas) was quoted by Maariv saying, “Anyone who saves one Israeli soul, saves an entire world.” Health Minister Uriel Busso (Shas) agreed to the deal on a piece of paper, and said in a post on X/Twitter, “There’s no greater mitzvah than saving hostages.”
“ואין לך מצוה גדולה כמו פדיון שבויים”שבת שלום pic.twitter.com/GUIhYlyuml
— Uriel Busso-אוריאל בוסו (@BussoUriel) January 17, 2025
A source told the Post that Netanyahu told the minister, “There are guarantees from both the Biden and Trump administrations that if talks on the second phase of the ceasefire agreement fail, and Israel’s security demands are not met, Israel will be able to resume fighting in Gaza with US backing.”
Anna Barsky contributed to this report. This is a developing story.
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