Israel agrees to temporary ceasefire with Hamas in exchange for 50 hostages

Qatar confirmed the truce, saying its start date would be announced in the next 24 hours and that it would last for four days. A statement from Qatar’s Foreign Ministry on Wednesday morning described the negotiations that led to the agreement as mediation by Egypt, the United States and Qatar for a “humanitarian truce.”

“The agreement includes the release of 50 civilian hostages, women and children, currently held in Gaza in exchange for the release of a number of Palestinian women and children held in Israeli prisons, with the number of those released to be increased in later stages of implementation,” the statement added.

Israel agrees to temporarily suspend ties with Hamas in exchange for about 50 hostages photo 1 — Image of a protest against the war in the Gaza Strip in Beirut, Lebanon on November 21, 2023. Photo: AP

They said the ceasefire would “allow access to a large number of humanitarian and relief aid convoys, including fuel designated for humanitarian needs.” However, the statement did not provide specifics on that.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office also said the agreement called for a four-day ceasefire, during which Israel would pause its military offensive in Gaza while Hamas freed "at least" 50 of the roughly 240 hostages it and other militants were holding. The first hostages to be released were women and children.

“The Israeli government is committed to bringing all hostages home. Tonight, the cabinet approved the outline for the first phase to achieve this goal,” his office said in a statement.

Under Wednesday's deal, Hamas is expected to release about 12 hostages a day. Although the statement did not say when the ceasefire would begin, Israeli media said the hostages could begin to be released as soon as Thursday.

Media reports say Israel will release about 150 Palestinian prisoners and allow additional humanitarian aid into Gaza as part of the deal.

The war broke out on October 7 when thousands of Hamas militants poured across the border into Israel, killing at least 1,200 people and taking hundreds of hostages. Israel responded with weeks of intense air strikes on Gaza, followed by a ground offensive that began more than three weeks ago.

The attack has caused massive devastation in northern Gaza, including Gaza City, displacing some 1.7 million people and triggering a humanitarian crisis with shortages of food, medicine, fuel and other vital supplies across the territory.

Israel has rejected growing international criticism and vowed to continue its offensive until Hamas's military and governance capabilities are destroyed and all hostages are freed. Hamas has ruled Gaza since ousting the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority in 2007.

Mai Anh (according to AP)

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