Israel's government has approved the framework of a deal to release all hostages held by the Hamas militant group in Gaza.
"The government has just now approved the framework for the release of all of the hostages – the living and the deceased," Netanyahu's office posted on social media platform X.
The deal was brokered partly by the United States and includes the release of all hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli soldiers to an
agreed line in Gaza.
The Israeli government's approval comes after US President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Hamas agreed to "phase one" of his Gaza plan. The release of hostages and a ceasefire are part of "phase one" of the plan, with later phases to focus on the governance of post-Hamas Gaza.
How many hostages are still in Gaza?
According to the Israeli government, 48 Israeli hostages are still being held by Hamas in Gaza. Only 20 are thought to be alive.
Some 1,200 people were killed in the Hamas-led terror attacks in Israel on October 7, 2023, and 251 were taken hostage.
That prompted Israeli's military operation in Gaza.
More than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza and nearly 170,000 wounded since the war began, according to Gaza's Health Ministry.
While the ministry doesn't differentiate between civilians and combatant killed, it says around half of those killed have been women and children.
US sending military team to 'oversee' Gaza ceasefire
Senior US officials have told news outlets that a US military team of 200 will be deployed to the Middle East to "oversee" the ceasefire in Gaza.
The officials — speaking to reporters on condition of anonymity — said the US personnel would be the core of a task force that includes representatives from Egypt's military, Qatar, Turkey and probably the United Arab Emirates.
Admiral Brad Cooper, chief of the US military's Central Command, "will initially have 200 people on the ground. His role will be to oversee, observe, make sure there are no violations," AFP news agency quoted one official as telling reporters.
"No US troops are intended to go into Gaza," the AP news agency quoted another official as saying.
