Early on Saturday morning, Israel’s cabinet approved the ceasefire and hostage release deal with Hamas, according to reporting from the Associated Press.
The deal pauses fighting in Gaza and gradually releases Israeli hostages captured by Hamas in return for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
The deal was announced by mediators on Wednesday, but needed the approval of Israel’s full cabinet to officially go into effect.
After hours of deliberation on Friday night, the cabinet finally approved the deal at 1 a.m. Saturday morning in Israel.
In the first phase of the deal, Hamas will gradually release a total of 33 hostages in exchange for 735 Palestinian prisoners from Israel.
