Cabinet meeting to begin at 3:30 p.m. local time

Defense Minister cites release of terrorists in hostage deal in decision to free 5 Judea and Samaria residents to their homes. 'Better for the families of Jewish settlers to be happy than for the families of released terrorists.'

<p><i>Israel National News</i> is stopping its round-the-clock news updates at this time in honor of the start of Shabbat in North America, where they are being written now.</p><p>Updates will resume Saturday night from Israel, following the conclusion of Shabbat at 17:39 Jerusalem time.</p><p>Shabbat Shalom!</p>

Hamas' Al-Aqsa channel claims the October 7 massacre weakened Israel, strengthened the Palestinian narrative over the Jewish narrative, and led to Israelis moving away from the country.

<figure class="image"><img src="/files/picturebase/650858.jpg"><figcaption>ישיבת הקבינט<span>צילום: דוברות</span></figcaption></figure>

<p>Former CIA analyst Asif Rahman admits to leaking highly classified records detailing Israeli military preparations for a retaliatory strike on Iran, reversing his earlier denial of the charges.</p><p><i>(Israel National News' North American desk is keeping you updated until the start of Shabbat in New York. The time posted automatically on all Israel National News articles, however, is Israeli time.)</i></p>

<p>As the Cabinet meeting discussing the hostage deal continued into Shabbat, female ministers left the meeting for the lighting of Shabbat candles, along with the employees of the Prime Minister's office.</p><p><i>(Israel National News' North American desk is keeping you updated until the start of Shabbat in New York. The time posted automatically on all Israel National News articles, however, is Israeli time.)</i></p>

<p><i>Israel National News' </i>Israel desk is stopping its round-the-clock news updates at this time in honor of Shabbat. Jerusalem candle lighting time is 16:20 on Friday. Our North American desk will keep you informed until the 16:38 EST candle lighting time in New York.</p><p>The updates from Israel will resume Saturday night, following the conclusion of Shabbat at 17:39 in Jerusalem.</p><p>Shabbat Shalom!</p><p> </p><p> </p>