Israel’s Security Cabinet Approves Hostages-For-Terrorists Deal
Israeli news website Arutz Sheva: “Terrorists with blood on their hands … will be released” under the deal.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has agreed to implement the hostages-for-terrorists deal, paving the way for the first phase of a three-stage agreement.
On Friday afternoon, Israel’s security cabinet approved the outline of the hostage deal. “Israel’s security Cabinet recommended approval on Friday of a ceasefire deal after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed an agreement had been reached that would pause the war with Hamas in Gaza and release dozens of hostages,” the Associated Press reported.
The first phase also requires an Israeli military withdrawal from large parts of Gaza, allowing for a free movement of Gaza residents — and worryingly, Hamas terrorists — across the enclave.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Security Cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem. pic.twitter.com/Wx5uOxQp7D
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) January 17, 2025
In the first phase, which starts Sunday, Hamas is expected to release 33 hostages in six weeks. “This initial phase will see the release of 33 hostages over 42 days. The hostages include women, children, elderly individuals, and those with urgent medical needs.” the Jerusalem Post reported. Hamas still holds 94 hostages kidnapped on October 7, 2023 — 34 of them presumed dead.
Ahead of the cabinet vote, Israeli negotiators signed a deal despite Hamas’s last-minute demands. “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been updated by the negotiating team that agreements have been reached on a deal for the release of the hostages,” prime minister’s office said in a statement on Friday morning.
“The State of Israel is committed to achieving all of the objectives of the war including the return of all of our hostages, the living and the deceased,” Netanyahu office added.
The Israeli news website YNET reported the details of the deal:
As part of the agreement, a six-week cease-fire will come into effect, during which the IDF will gradually withdraw from the central Gaza Strip, and displaced Palestinians will be allowed to return to the north. During this period, Israel will release 30 terrorists in exchange for each kidnapped civilian, and 50 terrorists for each female soldier released.
First, the women and children will be released, followed by men over the age of 50. The release of those kidnapped by Hamas will be spread out over 42 days, six weeks, with at least three hostages being released each week.
As part of the agreement, by the end of the first phase, Israel will release from prison all female terrorists held since October 7, 2023, as well as male terrorists under the age of 19 who were arrested since the outbreak of the war. In total, between 990 and 1,650 terrorists are expected to be released, with the final number depending on the number of live hostages who return as part of the deal.
Describing the following phases of the deal, the YNET added:
Negotiations on the second phase of the agreement, guaranteed by the U.S., Qatar and Egypt, will begin by the 16th day of the first phase. The second phase is expected to include the release of all remaining hostages, including soldiers, and to ensure a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and a full IDF withdrawal from it. The third phase is expected to include the return of all remaining hostages and the beginning of the reconstruction of Gaza under the supervision of Egypt, Qatar and the UN.
Several murderous terrorists serving life sentence are to be released as part of the deal. The Israeli news website Arutz Sheva disclosed that “some of the terrorists with blood on their hands who will be released as part of the hostage deal will be sent to Judea and Samaria, as well as eastern Jerusalem, contrary to the promises that were made earlier to the ministers.”
“The decision is expected to cause widespread public criticism and additional arguments within the government,” the news outlet added.
Gaza terrorists are demanding 30 convicted prisoners to free this baby. pic.twitter.com/jqrhMyRXmB
— Aviva Klompas (@AvivaKlompas) January 16, 2025
The hostages-for-terrorists deal was welcomed by Hamas and its followers across Gaza. Palestinian terrorists im full military gear lined up the streets, cheered on by crowds chanting “Allahu Akbar.”
The people of Gaza are celebrating.
— REAL JEW (@THEREALJEW613) January 16, 2025
They are chanting:
"We are the men of Mohammed Deif"
"Salute to the Al-Qassam brigades"
The women, the children, and the men are celebrating the 'Hamas victory.'
There will never be peace with these monsters. pic.twitter.com/F0mKxva1i8
National Security Minister Ben-Gvir to quit Netanyahu cabinet over the deal
The deal with Hamas was met with sharp criticism from within Prime Minister Netanyahu’s ruling coalition, with key cabinet members voting against the deal. “Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir voted against the deal. Likud MK Dudi Amsalem also expressed his opposition,” the Jerusalem Post reported.
Ahead of Friday’s cabinet meeting, Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir threatened to take his Otzma Yehudit party out of the governing coalition of the deal was endorsed.
Ben-Gvir vowed not to topple the Netanyahu-led government and support it from the outside during the deal’s first phase. He promised to return to the government if the Israeli military resumed its operation against Hamas terrorists after the hostages were freed.
🚨BREAKING🚨 Ben Gvir: If the deal goes through, we will resign from the government. If the war resumes – we will return https://t.co/O3MO8wx4oz
— Raylan Givens (@JewishWarrior13) January 16, 2025
Prime Minister Netanyahu, who currently holds 64-seats in the 120-member parliament, needs the Otzma Yehudit party’s 14 Knesset members for a majority in the house of representatives.
The Times of Israel reported Gvir’s remarks:
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir reiterates his Otzma Yehudit party will leave the coalition if the hostage-ceasefire deal with Hamas that was signed in Doha last night is approved, as is expected to happen today or tomorrow.
Lauding his own work strengthening the Israel Police, Prisons Service and Border Police as national security minister, he says he will leave the government “with a heavy heart.”
“I love Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and will make sure he continues to be prime minister, but I will leave because the deal that was signed is disastrous; it releases hundreds of terrorists with blood on their hands, who, upon their release, will seek to murder the next Jew; it allows the return of thousands of terrorists to the northern Gaza Strip with weapons — when their goal is to murder Jews; it harms Israel’s ability to defend itself on the Philadelphia axis and at other important points; and it undoes all the war successes that cost us so much blood,” he says in a lengthy statement.
The far-right minister also reiterates that if the IDF resumes fighting Hamas after a pause to free hostages held in Gaza since October 7, 2023, his party will offer to return to the government.
“We will not overthrow this government and we will support it from the outside, but we will not be partners in a defeatist agreement,” he says.
My initial reaction to this nightmare deal. pic.twitter.com/XH2djjUp8H
— Yishai Fleisher يشاي ישי פליישר 🕎 (@YishaiFleisher) January 15, 2025

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Comments
Why do they not seem to learn?
Israel has the whole world against them. If Hamas messes this up, Israel needs to erase Gaza and expel all the so-called “Palestinians”
You’d think by now, after decades of failed ceasefires, peace accords, agreements and what not, that the Israeli government would realize that negotiating with terrorists is futile and will accomplish nothing. But nope, we get yet another pointless ceasefire where the Israeli government once again pisses away the opportunity to eliminate the threat to both the Jews and Israel.. Really, why is it so darn hard for the Israeli government to declare they will no longer be tolerate any violence against the state of Israel or its citizens and then take action(s) to eliminate those threats. It’s as if they have a death wish. Suffice it to say I’ll have less sympathy for Israel when, not if but when, Hamas violates this ceasefire and re-starts their terrorist activities against Israel. If the Israeli government isn’t willing to take the actions necessary to protect their citizens and the sate of Israel then the blood is on their hands.
This is exactly why I voted for Ben Gvir’s party and not Bibi’s.
Why do we not learn?
I admit, I’m so disappointed in Trump, and BiBi signed his own death warrant
He has to know it
Why are you so disappointed in Trump?
Trump also pressured Israel to make this deal and has been more critical of Netanyahu.
Trump said that “All hell will break out” if the hostages aren’t released by the time he is sworn in.
Apparently, this stupid deal is what he meant, judging by the fact that he took credit for it.
Not a great beginning to a second term.
He not only took credit for it; his envoy Witkoff (sp?) made it clear to Bibi that it was a bad idea to anger the incoming president and that this was an offer Bibi couldn’t refuse.
Every morning we say “Don’t trust in princes/officials/noblemen (anyone have a better translation of ndiviim?), in mortal man who cannot save.” Ps. 146. So yes, when WILL we learn?
Why is there still a ‘Hamas?’
In a sane world Gaza would be deleted.
In a sane world Israel would never have given Gaza over to the arab terrorists control. But they did and here we are.
“Israel“ never voted to do that. That was a unilateral action by Sharon and his party.
I was really looking forward to “hell to pay,” and feel severely cheated. .There should have been zero pressure on Israel to avoid Hamas being sent straight to hell. Either Hamas releases all the hostages, in exchange for NOTHING, or we kill them all.
Instead they are getting the opposite of hell. They’re getting a total reprieve. They’re getting their fighters released. They are getting their wish list handed to them.
Total jackassery.
Here we go again. This is total shit!
And they’ll just do it again in weeks/months/years.
Tough crowd. Give it a chance before deciding the future.
Until the hostages are back, Israel’s hands are tied. Once in the rear view, Israel can then turn attention to Hamas and to all these prisoners that are now combatants. One thing for sure, the status quo was not working and not humanitarian to the captives or Israeli society at large.
In theory you are correct. However, IMO it is 100% that the lives of the hostages saved now will be replaced by EXTRA Israeli soldier and, possibly, Israeli civilian deaths in the future.
Actually, it’s more reality than theory. And just as Hamas will try to reconstiture, Israel will be making its own plans. We have seen Israel’s reach. Would not be too comfortable to be part of Hamas, especially once the hostage issue is off the table.
Only 50% or so of the hostages are even part of this deal. BTW what makes their blood redder than the Israelis who will be murdered by the released terrorists, or than the many Israelis who will be kidnapped in future October 7s because we have admitted to our genocidal enemies that this tactic works?
After all the hostages have been released (assuming that it happens), Israel should do what it takes to eradicate Hamas, in Gaza. “Deal” be damned. We know the goose-stepping, genocidal Islamofascists/Muslim terrorists in Gaza have never stopped their “holy war” belligerence, and, their word is worthless, given Islamic “taqiyya” principles (as well as the intrinsic mendacity and deceit of Muslim terrorists).
I would also recommend the construction of a massive security wall/barrier, separating Gaza from Israel, as well as the cessation of all work permits for Arab Fakestinian invaders from Arabia, who work in Israel, but, live in Gaza or the West Bank. No more perks of access to jobs and income in Israel.
Trump took credit for this deal, along with Biden.
Feels a lot like betrayal.
The only positives I can see, potentially, are 1) Israel can take the gloves off, if and after the hostages and bodies are returned; and, 2) the IDF can rest and re-group after more than one year of fighting on multiple fronts.
Still, the fact is that leftist dhimmis’ and Dhimmi-crats’ agitations and propaganda regarding the Fakestinian Arab invaders from Arabia’s entirely self-created and self-owned misery, poverty and deprivation, has put pressure on Israel.
It’s possible that #47 and Netanyahu are banking on Hamas resuming hostilities either before or after the “deal’s” terms are fulfilled by Hamas.
#2 — 1,000 Israeli soldiers have died, not counting those who have been maimed, to take the territory we are agreeing to withdraw from. When -not if – it needs to be retaken, it won’t somehow magically revert to Israel without casualties.
I will be surprised if the cease fire last 2 weeks.
Exactly, most likely Israel will get 9-15 hostages back and some Hamas guy will launch rockets at Tel Aviv again. Israel will blow up the launchers and Hamas will claim Israel broke the ceasefire and say they are not releasing more hostages. The only winners in all this are the 9-15 lucky enough to be released before it falls apart.
Hamas already tried to renegotiate it, but Bibi put his foot down.
Otzma doesn’t have 14 seats. I wish it did. But it only has 6.