Israel and Hamas agree to 4-day ceasefire to release hostages

According to Israeli government statistics, Hamas is believed to have taken about 240 hostages when this force suddenly invaded and attacked southern Israel on October 7. Israel then immediately declared war on Hamas, besieging and shelling Gaza, the territory controlled by Hamas.

Photos of hostages held by Hamas posted on walls in Tel Aviv (Israel)

The Times of Israel reported that the Israeli government approved the ceasefire agreement in a vote held early on November 22. According to a statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office, 50 hostages, including women and children, will be released by Hamas during the four-day ceasefire. The statement said that for every 10 hostages released, the ceasefire would be extended by one day, but did not mention Israel releasing Palestinian prisoners.

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Hamas said 50 hostages would be released in exchange for 150 Palestinian women and children being held in Israeli prisons. The truce would also allow hundreds of trucks carrying humanitarian, medical and fuel aid to enter Gaza, the Palestinian political -military organization said. Israel also pledged not to attack or arrest anyone in any part of Gaza during the truce, according to Reuters.

Several countries, including the five permanent members of the UN Security Council (the US, UK, France, Russia and China), have welcomed the first major diplomatic breakthrough between Hamas and Israel since the conflict began. "Today's agreement will bring more American hostages home and I will not stop until they are all released," US President Joe Biden said. Meanwhile, Jordan and Qatar expressed hope that the agreement will help end the fighting.

Qatar and Egypt have played a key mediating role in efforts to reach a deal. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Netanyahu has insisted that Israel will continue the war until all its objectives are achieved, so that "no entity in Gaza can threaten Israel."

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