Deal could be announced today, Ben-Gvir admits to halting previous agreements

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is holding consultations as of 7:30 p.m. on the hostage deal. 

Sirens sounded in several areas of Israel and the West Bank on Monday following the firing of a missile from Yemen, the IDF announced shortly after.

The Israeli air force intercepted the missile before it arrived in Israeli territory. The sirens were activated in accordance with protocol.

Israel and Hamas are close to a possible hostage, ceasefire deal in which 33 hostages will be released during the first phase, with a staged withdrawal of IDF forces from Gaza other than an undefined security perimeter, diplomatic sources.

The sources noted that on the 16th day of the ceasefire, negotiations would start regarding the later stages of the hostage exchange with the goal of releasing all the hostages and regarding IDF withdrawals, but did not mention a definite time frame, though some sources expect the first phase of the deal to last 42 days.  

In terms of when the ceasefire deal would be signed and if it would be signed, there was still uncertainty if it was hours away, days away, or could still unravel.

Diplomatic sources said a cabinet vote and an expected High Court of Justice ruling on petitions to block the deal would also be necessary.

Should the deal go through, the sources said that the first hostages could be released fairly quickly, though it was unclear exactly what the release schedule would be.

The Hostage Directorate in the Prime Minister's Office announced on Monday that they are routinely prepared fro any possible deal, in press release.

"In recent weeks, the Directorate has conducted a number of preparedness exercises for various scenarios, with the participation of the relevant government ministries and other professional bodies, and has ensured that they are prepared to handle the returnees and their families."

"The media and the public are asked to respect the privacy of the families at this complex time."

"The Directorate maintains continuous contact with the families regarding new updates on the negotiations and will continue to support the families of the hostages in the hope and prayer that they will all return home soon."

A Hamas source told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed on Monday evening that the mediators had sent them a draft ceasefire agreement, and if there were no major changes, the response would be positive.

The source said that Hamas's central meeting will be held this evening to discuss the draft agreement they received. He stressed that "if there is no infringement on the essential points that concern us, the response will be positive."

Hamas has not yet sent its final answer on a Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal, an Israeli official told The Jerusalem Post on Monday.

In response to statements from Israeli political figures, Hamas, and those with knowledge of the hostage negotiations that a hostage deal is imminent, Israeli political figures from across the spectrum have begun weighing in on Monday.

Hamas has ordered its troops to remain on high alert and maintain the highest level of security due to an intensification of Israeli intelligence operations in the Gaza Strip leading up to a possible hostage deal, according to a report in Ashraq al-Awsat on Monday.

The goal is to protect Hamas members from being targeted by Israeli assassinations ahead of the expected ceasefire agreement.

Hamas's leadership issued strict instructions to field commanders and military activists not to appear in public and to reduce movements, including on foot or in any vehicles unless there is an urgent security necessity that requires it, Ashraq al-Awsat reported.

MK Yakov Asher (Degel Hatorah-United Torah Judaism) said in the Interior Committee deliberations on Monday, referring to the emerging deal, that the hostages should be released "as much as possible, as quickly as possible, and saved as much as possible. The people of Israel need to bring the people home."