IDF readies to receive hostages returning from Gaza

The Israeli government approved the hostage deal at 1 a.m. on Saturday after over seven hours of debate, Walla reported.

Twenty-four ministers voted in favor, and eight ministers voted against.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a conference call with the negotiating team in Doha, who reported on last-minute attempts by Hamas to back out of the hostage agreement, the Prime Minister's Office announced in a statement on Thursday.

“The deal that will be presented to the government is both bad and dangerous for Israel’s national security," Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced on Wednesday evening.

"Alongside the immense joy and excitement over the return of each kidnapped individual, this agreement undermines many of the achievements of the war, during which the heroes of this nation risked their lives. It may, God forbid, cost us dearly in blood. We strongly oppose it.

"We will not remain silent. The cries of our brothers’ blood call out to us. Our continued presence in the government depends on absolute certainty of resuming the war with full force—on a broad scale and with a renewed strategy—until we achieve a decisive victory, including the complete destruction of Hamas and the safe return of all hostages to their homes."

Over the past two days, the prime minister and I have held intensive discussions on this issue. He is fully aware of Religious Zionism’s detailed demands, and the ball is now in his court," Smotrich concluded.

President Isaac Herzog announced on Wednesday that he stood "behind the Prime Minister and the negotiation team in their efforts to secure a deal" and called on the government to approve the deal presented to them to "bring our sons and daughters home."

"This is the right move. This is an important move. This is a necessary move," Herzog stressed. "There is no greater moral, human, Jewish, or Israeli duty than to bring back our sons and daughters—some for recovery and their return home, and others for their final rest." in a press conference on Wednesday evening.

"We have a duty—to take a step toward rectification," he added, stating that "This agreement—when approved and implemented—will bring difficult, painful, and extremely challenging moments. It will also present us with very tough challenges. This is not a simple situation. This is one of the hardest challenges we have faced. I respect and understand the deep fears and pains that this deal brings with it. I fully comprehend them—especially after the great trauma of past deals and October 7th. It is clear to all of us that we must utilize every security and diplomatic tool at our disposal and firmly uphold our security interests to protect all the residents of Israel."

Phase one

The first phase of the deal will last 42 days, and implementation of the agreement will begin two or three days after its signing.

The IDF will withdraw from the Netzarim corridor and all populated areas of the enclave to about 700 meters from the border, except in five specified areas, where it will be 400 meters.

The IDF will reportedly reduce its presence on the Philadelphi corridor and then withdraw from it completely over the course of the first 50 days.

A vehicle with Hamas military wing operatives was spotted roaming the streets of Khan Yunis, N12 reported on Wednesday.

תיעוד: רכב עם פעילי הזרוע הצבאית של חמאס מסתובב ברחובות ח'אן יונס @sapirlipkin pic.twitter.com/gP2NYWdxAb

— החדשות - N12 (@N12News) January 15, 2025

Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani is set to announce that Israel and the Palestinian terror group Hamas have agreed to a three-stage deal to release the 98 remaining hostages held in Gaza at a press conference scheduled for Wednesday evening.

Thirty-three hostages are reportedly set to be released in the first phase of the deal.

Negotiations would resume in regard to the latter stages of the hostage deal, with the goal of releasing all the hostages, on the 16th day of the agreed ceasefire, a source told The Jerusalem Post.

The Operation to return Israeli hostages from Hamas captivity in Gaza will be named "Wings of Freedom," the PMO announced on Wednesday.

The Israeli government will meet at 11 a.m. on Thursday to approve the hostage deal achieved in Qatar.

A ceasefire and hostage deal has been agreed upon by Hamas and Israel, a US official told The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday.

This is a developing story.