Israel’s cabinet to meet to approve Gaza ceasefire deal

Unlock Editor’s Digest for free

Roula Khalaf, editor of the FT, picks her favorite stories in this weekly newsletter.

Israel confirmed that a ceasefire deal had been reached in Gaza after talks with Hamas resolved a last-minute crisis, with Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet set to vote on the deal on Friday.

US-led mediators announced on Wednesday that both sides had agreed to a multi-phase deal to end the 15-month-old war and free 98 hostages still held by Palestinian militant groups.

But Israel’s official approval was delayed amid disagreements with Hamas over whether Palestinian prisoners should be released and Political tension Inside the Netanyahu government.

The cabinet is now expected to approve the deal on Friday, with the full government meeting and voting Saturday evening after the Sabbath, according to a person familiar with the Israeli government’s negotiations.

By law, the Israeli public has the right to appeal to the Supreme Court against the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons that are part of the deal – making it “possible”, the person added, adding that implementation of the deal only began on Monday.

Mediators were earlier confident that the cease-fire would take effect and that the first three Israeli hostages would be released by midday on Sunday.

With Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also trying to manage the political crisis at home, far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gavir announced Thursday night that he and his Jewish Power party would leave the ruling coalition if “reckless.” The contract has been approved.

Ben-Gavir and his ultra-nationalist ally, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, repeatedly threatened to quit Netanyahu’s government if it accepted a deal that would end the war.

The exit of Jewish Power would leave the prime minister’s coalition with a two-seat majority in Israel’s parliament. This will put pressure on Smotrich’s Religious Zionism Party to follow suit and withdraw.

Although Ben-Gavir and Smotrich are not considered to have enough support in the cabinet to torpedo the deal’s approval, it will lose its parliamentary majority if they both force their far-right parties out of the government. Israel’s political system does not preclude minority governments, and opposition parties have said they are ready to support Netanyahu’s coalition if necessary.

But the defeat of his two allies would shake Netanyahu’s power and could lead to early elections.