Israel’s government is aiming to vote Saturday night, local time, to accept the terms of a ceasefire and hostage agreement, multiple outlets reported, delaying implementation of a deal that negotiators hoped to go into effect on Sunday.
While President Biden, President-elect Trump, and Qatar’s emir announced Wednesday that a deal had been agreed between Israel and Hamas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delayed beginning the internal Israeli process of approving the deal.
That process is expected to include a vote in the security cabinet, a government-wide vote and at least 24 hours to allow for appeals at the Israeli Supreme Court.
CNN reported on Thursday that Israel’s security cabinet would convene Friday to vote on the deal, and that the full cabinet would vote Saturday night, following the conclusion of shabbat – the Jewish religious holiday that takes place from sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday.
The Times of Israel, citing the Hebrew-language Channel 12 news, also reported that the Kreportednesset will vote Saturday night, saying that pushes the start date for the ceasefire to Monday.
Trump has warned of “hell” breaking out in the Middle East if hostages are not released before he is sworn into office on Monday, Jan. 20, and he celebrated the clinching of the deal on Wednesday.
The president-elect also suggested he pressured Netanyahu into the deal, sharing on his social media site Truth Social a headline from the Times of Israel reading: “Arab officials: ‘Trump envoy swayed Netanyahu more in one meeting than Biden did all year.’”
