Following lengthy mediation efforts involving Qatar, Egypt and the US, a temporary truce agreement between Israel and Hamas in Gaza has been agreed upon.
The deal will see 50 women and children held captive in Gaza freed in exchange for the release of 150 Palestinian women and children held in Israeli jails.
The starting time of the pause will be announced within the next 24 hours. The pause will last for four days, subject to extension
Hamas said that as part of the truce plans, Israel will stop military actions in all areas of the Gaza Strip, including the movement of military vehicles and hundreds of humanitarian aid trucks, including medical and fuel supplies, will be allowed into Gaza.
Also, drones in southern Gaza will stop for four days. They will stop in the north for six hours per day. Israel “is committed not to attack or arrest anyone in all areas of the Gaza Strip” during this time.
Freedom of movement will be guaranteed along Salah al-Din Road.
Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu said that that the pause is not an end to the war, adding that his military will press on after the pause.
Israel provided details about Palestinian prisoners slated for release as part of the deal, a publication that appeared intended to allow for any last-minute legal challenges. The list was posted by the Justice Ministry
Qatar’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said that he hopes the agreement to establish a four-day truce in Gaza will lead to comprehensive peace talks.
“We thank our partners for contributing to the truce agreement in Gaza, led by Egypt and Washington,” he added.
Although a four-day ceasefire has been agreed upon by Israel and Hamas, an immediate end to Israeli bombing of Gaza is unlikely.
An official communication is now expected to be sent to Qatar of the Israeli cabinet’s vote in favour of the truce agreement. That will then be followed by an official announcement in Qatar of the deal.
That announcement starts the clock ticking on a 24-hour period during which any Israeli opposed to the truce agreement can lodge an appeal against the decision with Israel’s High Court.
During this period, neither captives in Gaza nor Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails will be released. After this period of appeal has passed, it is likely that the first exchange of captives and prisoners will take place on either Thursday or Friday.
Biden Welcomes Truce
U.S President Joe Biden released a statement, specifically welcoming the deal to release captives held by Hamas.
Biden thanked Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani of Qatar and President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt for “their critical leadership and partnership in reaching this deal.”
He added that he “appreciate[d] the commitment that Prime Minister Netanyahu and his government have made in supporting an extended pause”.
“I look forward to speaking with each of these leaders and staying in close contact as we work to ensure this deal is carried through in its entirety,” Biden added.
“It is important that all aspects of this deal be fully implemented,” the US president said.
“Today’s deal should bring home additional American hostages, and I will not stop until they are all released,” he said.
Additionally, the U.S Secretary of state, Antony Blinken, disclosed that the hostage deal was “the result of tireless diplomacy and relentless effort across the Department and broader United States government.”
“While this deal marks significant progress, we will not rest as long as Hamas continues to hold hostages in Gaza,” Blinken said.
Russia also welcomed the humanitarian pause agreement.
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