---
title: "Hamas set to release first hostages under Gaza ceasefire deal, Israel says"
description: "DOHA/CAIRO/JERUSALEM, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Hamas is expected to release the first hostages under a Gaza ceasefire deal on Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said on Friday."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Middle East conflict"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-01-17-hamas-set-to-release-first-hostages-under-gaza-ceasefire-deal-israel-says/"
published: "2025-01-17T12:29:51"
updated: "2025-01-17T12:29:52"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 267
---

# Hamas set to release first hostages under Gaza ceasefire deal, Israel says

> DOHA/CAIRO/JERUSALEM, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Hamas is expected to release the first hostages under a Gaza ceasefire deal on Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said on Friday.

By Reuters · Published 17 January 2025, 14:29 SAST · Updated 17 January 2025, 14:29 SAST

## Key points
- As Israeli warplanes continue to rain down destruction on Gaza, a potential ceasefire hangs in the balance, promising to stop the carnage that has already claimed over 46,000 lives and left a once-thriving enclave in tatters, while Netanyahu's cabinet debates whether to hit the pause button or keep the chaos rolling.
- A proposed ceasefire in Gaza aims to end fighting that has killed over 46,000 and displaced most of its 2.3 million residents.
- Israeli cabinet set to finalize a deal with Hamas for a ceasefire and hostage release, amid concerns of delays.
- Intense Israeli airstrikes continue in Gaza, resulting in at least 101 deaths, including women and children, since the ceasefire announcement.
- Netanyahu's office confirms imminent approval of the deal, with a restricted cabinet meeting scheduled before a full cabinet vote.

## Content

If successful, the ceasefire would halt fighting that has razed much of heavily urbanised Gaza, [killed over 46,000 people](https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/gaza-death-toll-how-many-palestinians-has-israels-campaign-killed-2024-07-25), and displaced most of the tiny enclave's pre-war population of 2.3 million several times over, according to local authorities.

The Israeli cabinet will meet to give final approval to the deal with militant group Hamas for a [ceasefire in Gaza](https://www.reuters.com/world/israel-hamas/) and a release of hostages, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said on Friday, following concerns the accord may be delayed.

In Gaza itself, Israeli warplanes kept up intense strikes, and the Civil Emergency Service said on Friday that at least 101 people, including 58 women and children, had been killed since the deal was announced.

With longstanding divisions apparent among ministers, Israel delayed meetings expected on Thursday when the cabinet was expected to vote on the pact, blaming Hamas for the hold-up.

Hamas said it was committed to the deal.

But in the early hours of Friday, Netanyahu's office said approval was imminent and the restricted security cabinet is due to meet on Friday before a full cabinet meeting to ratify the deal that will be held later.

"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was informed by the negotiating team that agreements have been reached on a deal to release the hostages," his office said in a statement.

(Reporting by Andrew Mills in Doha, Nidal al-Mughrabi in Cairo, Maayan Lubell and James Mackenzie in Jerusalem, Jana Choukeir, Clauda Tanios and Nayera Abdallah in Dubai; additional reporting by Emily Rose, Howard Goller, Ramadan Abed, Steve Holland and Alexander Cornwell; Writing Michael Georgy; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan and Sharon Singleton)