Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened the Cabinet this evening (Monday) to discuss and vote on the deal to secure the release of dozens of hostages who have been held in Gaza by the Hamas terrorist organization since the October 7 massacre.
As part of the deal, the Cabinet will vote to approve the release of terrorists from Israeli prisons - probably about 150 terrorists in the first stage.
In addition, Israel will agree to cease its military operation in Gaza for four days.
Hamas will release 50 hostages as part of the deal mainly women and children. An additional 20 hostages may also be released if the ceasefire is extended by two days.
Israel also committed to refraining from aerial surveillance activity during the ceasefire for six hours a day, at the request of Hamas in order to make it difficult for Israel to track the location of terrorist operatives.
It is estimated that Hamas holds about 80 children and mothers captive, meaning that not all of them will be released as part of the deal. The deal also includes a commitment that the list of those released will not include foreign citizens who do not have Israeli citizenship.
The Religious Zionism and Otzma Yehudit parties have already announced that they will vote against the deal. Minister Gideon Sa'ar of the National Unity party stated that he would have to examine the details in depth before deciding how he will vote.
The Shas party has been instructed by its Council of Torah Sages to vote in favor of the deal due to the extreme danger the hostages are in as long as they remain in Hamas' clutches. The United Torah Judaism party is also expected to vote in favor of the deal.