Israel, Hamas agree truce, hostages for prisoners swap
Published: 06:11 PM,Nov 22,2023 | EDITED : 10:11 PM,Nov 22,2023
Palestinians march to express their solidarity with the Gaza Strip in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah. - AFP
JERUSALEM: Israel and Hamas said Wednesday they had agreed on a four-day truce in the Gaza war during which the Palestinian militant group would free at least 50 of the hostages they took in their deadly October 7 attack.
In turn, Israel would release at least 150 Palestinian prisoners and allow more humanitarian aid into the coastal territory after more than six weeks of bombardment, heavy fighting and crippling siege.
The hostages to be freed are women and children, and the Palestinian prisoners are women and detainees aged 18 and younger. The process could begin Thursday at 10 am according to regional media reports.
The deal -- negotiated with Qatar, the United States and Egypt -- is the first major breakthrough in Gaza's bloodiest ever war that has killed thousands and left much of the territory in ruins.
Although it promises a truce that could be extended if more captives are freed, Israel has vowed to stick to its war aim of destroying Hamas and rescuing all 240 hostages held in the war zone.
'We are very happy that a partial release is pending,' Israel's Hostages and Missing Families Forum group said in a statement. 'As of now, we don't know exactly who will be released when.'
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose cabinet approved the truce after a marathon overnight session, told his ministers that this was a 'difficult decision but it's a right decision'.
The cabinet's sign-off was one of the last hurdles after what one US official described as five 'extremely excruciating' weeks of talks.
Hamas welcomed the 'humanitarian truce' and an official of the group said that 'the resistance is committed to the truce as long as the occupation honours it'.
Israel said that, to facilitate the hostage release, it would initiate a four-day 'pause' in its air assault of Gaza.
If the initial phase works, a subsequent phase could see 150 more Palestinian prisoners released in exchange for 50 more hostages, said an Israeli government document naming 300 eligible prisoners.
For every 10 additional hostages released, there would be an extra day's 'pause' in fighting, the document said. Hamas and IJ group sources earlier said the truce would apply to ground operations as well as air operations over southern Gaza.
The negotiations have involved the US Central Intelligence Agency, Israel's Mossad, Egyptian intelligence and leaders in Doha, Cairo, Washington, Gaza and Israel.
Families on both sides grappled with a lack of clarity over how the releases would unfold.
'We don't know who will get out because Hamas will release the names every evening of those who will get out the next day,' said Gilad Korngold, whose son and daughter-in-law are being held in Gaza along with their two children and other relatives.
Israel's list of eligible Palestinian prisoners included 33 women and 123 detainees under 18. Amani Sarahneh, spokesperson for the Palestinian Prisoners' Club advocacy group, said 'we don't know who will be freed first, and that's a problem for us in responding to the families'. - AFP
In turn, Israel would release at least 150 Palestinian prisoners and allow more humanitarian aid into the coastal territory after more than six weeks of bombardment, heavy fighting and crippling siege.
The hostages to be freed are women and children, and the Palestinian prisoners are women and detainees aged 18 and younger. The process could begin Thursday at 10 am according to regional media reports.
The deal -- negotiated with Qatar, the United States and Egypt -- is the first major breakthrough in Gaza's bloodiest ever war that has killed thousands and left much of the territory in ruins.
Although it promises a truce that could be extended if more captives are freed, Israel has vowed to stick to its war aim of destroying Hamas and rescuing all 240 hostages held in the war zone.
'We are very happy that a partial release is pending,' Israel's Hostages and Missing Families Forum group said in a statement. 'As of now, we don't know exactly who will be released when.'
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose cabinet approved the truce after a marathon overnight session, told his ministers that this was a 'difficult decision but it's a right decision'.
The cabinet's sign-off was one of the last hurdles after what one US official described as five 'extremely excruciating' weeks of talks.
Hamas welcomed the 'humanitarian truce' and an official of the group said that 'the resistance is committed to the truce as long as the occupation honours it'.
Israel said that, to facilitate the hostage release, it would initiate a four-day 'pause' in its air assault of Gaza.
If the initial phase works, a subsequent phase could see 150 more Palestinian prisoners released in exchange for 50 more hostages, said an Israeli government document naming 300 eligible prisoners.
For every 10 additional hostages released, there would be an extra day's 'pause' in fighting, the document said. Hamas and IJ group sources earlier said the truce would apply to ground operations as well as air operations over southern Gaza.
The negotiations have involved the US Central Intelligence Agency, Israel's Mossad, Egyptian intelligence and leaders in Doha, Cairo, Washington, Gaza and Israel.
Families on both sides grappled with a lack of clarity over how the releases would unfold.
'We don't know who will get out because Hamas will release the names every evening of those who will get out the next day,' said Gilad Korngold, whose son and daughter-in-law are being held in Gaza along with their two children and other relatives.
Israel's list of eligible Palestinian prisoners included 33 women and 123 detainees under 18. Amani Sarahneh, spokesperson for the Palestinian Prisoners' Club advocacy group, said 'we don't know who will be freed first, and that's a problem for us in responding to the families'. - AFP