Israeli war cabinet meeting to discuss hostage deal, prime minister's office says

The Israeli war cabinet is meeting to discuss a potential hostage deal with Hamas, a source in the prime minister’s office told CNN. 

The war cabinet has five members: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, former Defense Minister Benny Gantz and former IDF chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot. 

Following the war cabinet meeting, Israel’s security cabinet – which is larger than the war cabinet – is due to meet at 12 p.m. ET to discuss the deal. 

After that meeting, Israel’s full cabinet – all the government ministers – is expected to meet at 1 p.m. ET to discuss the deal.

The deal does not have to go to the full 120-member Knesset for approval. 

Remember: Israel, Hamas and the US are on the cusp of reaching a deal that could be announced as soon as Tuesday for Hamas to release 50 women and children hostages that the militant group took during the October 7 terror attack on Israel, in exchange for a four-to-five day pause in fighting and three Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons for every hostage released, according to sources familiar with the negotiations.