First hostages may be released as early as Thursday — report

Ministers at the cabinet meeting tonight on the developing hostage deal were informed that the first batch of hostages in Gaza may be released as early as Thursday this week, Channel 12 reports.

According to some of the reported details of the deal, some 50 Israeli hostages — women and children — will be released in exchange for 4-5 days of a temporary ceasefire, the release of between about 150 and 300 Palestinian prisoners, female and minor detainees, and the entry of fuel and other goods into Gaza.

The release is expected to take place in stages with about 12 hostages released per day.

The cabinet is meeting now to discuss and decide on the deal, and is expected to give the okay.

If, as expected, the deal is approved by the full cabinet tonight, Israel will subsequently publish the details of Palestinian prisoners to be freed, a government source said earlier.

The public will have 24 hours by law to petition against any of these planned prisoner releases.