Israel and Hamas have agreed to a humanitarian pauseallowing the release of 50 civilian hostages in the Gaza Strip in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, according to the Qatari government.
After mediation by the US, Qatar and Egypt, the Israeli government and Hamas militants have agreed to a temporary ceasefire that will last four days — and could be extended, the foreign ministry in Qatar said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“The humanitarian pause will also allow the entry of more humanitarian convoys and aid, including fuel intended for humanitarian needs,” Qatar said, adding that the start of the pause would be announced in the next 24 hours.
“The agreement includes the release of 50 civilian women and children hostages currently held in the Gaza Strip in exchange for the release of a number of Palestinian women and children held in Israeli prisons,” the ministry said.
More people could be released in the later stages of the deal, the ministry added.
The major diplomatic breakthrough comes after weeks of talks between the US, Qatar, Israel, Egypt and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
Hamas infiltrated southern Israel on October 7, killing about 1,200 people, including foreigners, and taking about 240 hostages in Gaza. In response to the terrorist attack, Israel launched air, sea and land attacks on the coastal enclave controlled by Hamas. More than 14,000 Palestinians have been killed so far, according to the Hamas-run Gaza media office.
Israeli cabinet members approved the deal shortly after 3 a.m. Wednesday in Jerusalem and said it would be the “first stage” of freeing the hostages.
Ahead of Qatar’s announcement, a senior US administration official said late Tuesday the initial tranche of 50 hostages would be released in four days, during which Israel would halt its shelling of Gaza to ensure their safe passage.
The first wave of hostages could include three Americans, including a small child, the official said.
The deal has built-in incentives to release more hostages over time. The Israeli government said in a statement after the cabinet vote that as part of the deal “the release of every additional ten hostages will result in one extra day in the pause.”
Separately, Hamas said in a statement that Israel had agreed to release 150 Palestinian women and children prisoners. Neither Qatar nor Israel said the number of Palestinians to be released in exchange for the hostages held by Hamas.
US President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken welcomed news of the deal.
The four-day ceasefire will allow more humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza where civilians live in dire conditions without constant access to food, water, fuel and electricity. An average of 42 aid trucks per day have been sent to Gaza since 21 October.
Israel made it clear in its statement after the vote that the war will not end until all hostages are freed and Hamas is eliminated.
“There is a lot of nonsense going on outside, as if after the ceasefire to release the hostages, we will stop the war,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in his opening speech before the cabinet meeting.
“I would like to clarify, we are at war and we will continue to fight, continue to fight until we reach all our goals.”
— CNBC’s Joanna Tan contributed to the report.
Read the original at Defence247.gr
