Israel and Hamas agree ceasefire deal to bring temporary halt to devastating war
dailyrecord.co.ukIsrael’s Cabinet has approved a ceasefire deal with Hamas that would bring a temporary halt to the devastating war that has stretched on for over six weeks.Hamas will release dozens of hostages being held in the Gaza Strip in exchange for Palestinians in Israeli prisons.
Under the deal, which was agreed on Wednesday, Hamas is to free 50 of the roughly 240 hostages it is holding in the Gaza Strip over a four-day period.The Israeli government said it said it would extend the lull by an additional day for every 10 hostages released, adding that the first to be released would be women and children.
A statement released by Qatar, which mediates with Hamas, on Wednesday morning said the deal includes “the release of a number of Palestinian women and children detained in Israeli prisons, the number of those released will be increased in later stages of implementing the agreement,” and that it would allow additional humanitarian aid into Gaza.
The Israeli statement made no mention of either of these elements. The statement from Qatar’s foreign ministry described the talks that produced the agreement as a mediation by Egypt, the US and Qatar for a “humanitarian pause,” adding that the start time of the truce will be announced within the next day.
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