Israel’s government and Hamas have reached an agreement for a four-day pause in fighting. This truce will allow for the release of 50 hostages held in Gaza, along with the entry of humanitarian aid into the besieged enclave. The deal was mediated by officials from Qatar, the U.S., Israel, and Hamas, who have been engaged in secret negotiations.
Hamas is believed to be holding more than 200 hostages, taken during their incursion into Israel on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people, according to Israeli reports.
During a government meeting, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that 50 women and children will be released over the course of four days. The pause in fighting will be extended by an additional day for every 10 hostages released. The statement did not mention the release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the hostages, but it emphasized Israel’s commitment to bringing all the hostages home.
Hamas, on the other hand, stated that the release of the 50 hostages is contingent upon the release of 150 Palestinian women and children held in Israeli jails. The truce deal will also facilitate the entry of hundreds of trucks carrying humanitarian, medical, and fuel aid into Gaza. Hamas added that Israel has committed not to attack or arrest anyone in all parts of Gaza during the truce period.
U.S. President Joe Biden welcomed the deal, expressing his hope that it would lead to the release of additional American hostages. The Qatar government also supported the agreement, announcing the release of 50 civilian women and children hostages from Gaza in exchange for the release of Palestinian women and children held in Israeli prisons.
The exact starting time of the truce will be announced within the next 24 hours, according to the Qatar government. This truce marks the first pause in a war that has seen extensive Israeli bombardments in Hamas-ruled Gaza, resulting in the deaths of 13,300 civilians and leaving about two-thirds of the population homeless.
Prime Minister Netanyahu clarified that despite the truce, Israel’s broader mission remains unchanged. He stated, “We are at war, and we will continue the war until we achieve all our goals: to destroy Hamas, return all our hostages, and ensure that no entity in Gaza can threaten Israel.”
In response, Hamas declared in a statement, “As we announce the striking of a truce agreement, we affirm that our fingers remain on the trigger, and our victorious fighters will remain on the lookout to defend our people and defeat the occupation.”
The release of the hostages is expected to begin on Thursday. Among them are three Americans, including a 3-year-old girl whose parents were killed during Hamas’s attack on October 7. Additionally, more than half of the hostages held foreign and dual citizenship from around 40 countries, including the U.S., Thailand, Britain, France, Argentina, Germany, Chile, Spain, and Portugal.
It is important to note that the implementation of the deal will be delayed by 24 hours to allow for necessary preparations.
Overall, this truce and hostage release agreement between Israel and Hamas provide a temporary respite in the ongoing conflict, allowing for the exchange of prisoners and the delivery of much-needed humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Source: TimesKuwait
