JAKARTA - The Israeli authorities and the Hamas militant group agreed to a four-day ceasefire in Gaza, followed by the exchange of 50 detained hostages for 150 imprisoned Palestinians, as well as the entry of humanitarian aid into the enclave.
Negotiations were carried out for days between Hamas, Israel, the United States, and Qatar as mediators. It is believed that around 240 hostages are being held by Hamas.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a statement that 50 women and children would be released over four days, during which there would be a lull in the fighting.
For every additional 10 hostages released, the pause would be extended by another day, he said, without mentioning the release of Palestinian prisoners in return.
"The Israeli government is committed to repatriating all the hostages. Tonight, they agreed to a proposed agreement as the first stage to achieve this goal," read the statement, reported by Reuters, November 22.
Meanwhile, Hamas said 50 hostages would be released in exchange for 150 Palestinian women and children held in Israeli prisons.
On the other hand, the ceasefire deal will also allow hundreds of trucks of humanitarian aid, medical supplies, and fuel to enter Gaza, the Palestinian group said in a statement.
Separately, US President Joe Biden said he welcomed the deal.
"Today's deal will bring home more American hostages, and I will not rest until they are all freed," he said in a statement.
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Meanwhile, the Qatari government said 50 hostage civilians and children would be released from Gaza, in return for the release of "a number of Palestinian women and children held in Israeli prisons".
The start time of the ceasefire will be announced within the next 24 hours, he said in a statement.
In addition to Israeli citizens, more than half of the hostages have foreign citizenship and dual citizenship from around 40 countries including the US, Thailand, Britain, France, Argentina, Germany, Chile, Spain and Portugal, the Israeli government said.
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