Cabinet finishes security briefing ahead of vote on hostage deal

Israel’s security chiefs have finished briefing the cabinet on the hostage deal, the Kan public broadcaster reports.

Some of the ministers have decided to submit their votes early, rather than wait until the end of the meeting to do so.

Among them is Likud’s David Amsalem, who voted against the deal during the security cabinet meeting as well, though, his vote didn’t count then because he is only an observer.

Kan reports that Amsalem believes the hostages should be released all in one deal and not in the phased framework that is set to begin on Sunday.

Likud Minister Amichai Chikli also voted against the deal, the network later says.

Negotiators believe Hamas would have been prepared to release all of the hostages at once in exchange for an end to the war, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu preferred a phased framework, as he has sought to resume fighting after some of the hostages are released.