Israel and Hamas agreed on a four-day temporary suspension of hostilities as Hamas to release 50 hostages taken on October 7, both sides announced on Wednesday.
Benjamin Netanyahu and his cabinet came towards the conclusion along his ministers that this was a difficult decision but a necessary one.
A government spokesman told AFP that under the agreement at least 50 Israeli and foreign hostages would be released — women and children — in return for a four-day suspension of military operations.
For every 10 additional hostages released, there would be an extra day of truce.
Hamas said in a statement, it is good news to suspend military operations for 4 days and they also expect to the release of 150 Palestinians from Israeli jails.
The truce offers Gaza residents the prospect of a desperately desired, if brief, pause after nearly seven weeks of total war.
Sources had earlier told AFP the truce would include a complete ceasefire on the ground and a pause in Israeli air operations over southern Gaza.
The Israeli cabinet’s approval was one of the difficult agreement coming into effect.
Middle Eastern State Qatar also helped to broker the talks of the exchange of hostages.
Credit: AFP and DailyWestNorth.com have contributed to this News report.
