People take part in a protest demanding the release of all hostages kidnapped during the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas, in Tel Aviv, Israel, July 3, 2025. (photo: REUTERS/Shir Torem)

The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement on Saturday that the decision was made based on an assessment of the current situation, aiming to speed up the hostage exchange and achieve a ceasefire in Gaza based on Qatar’s proposal.

The proposal includes Hamas releasing 10 living Israeli hostages and returning the bodies of 18 others hostages in exchange for a 60-day ceasefire. In return, Israel would release 1,000 Palestinian prisoners along with 1,111 individuals detained in Gaza since October 7, 2023. During the ceasefire period, both sides would continue negotiations toward a complete end to the conflict.

In another development, thousands of Israelis took to the streets in Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square on Saturday night to demand the government quickly reaching an agreement with Hamas to rescue all hostages. The protest coincided with a meeting of the Israeli Security Cabinet to discuss Hamas’s response to Qatar’s proposal, ahead of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s visit to the United States early next week.