Israel and Hamas Approve Deal to Free Hostages and Temporarily Pause Conflict
Israel’s cabinet and the militant group Hamas have reached an agreement to release dozens of hostages from Gaza in exchange for a four-day pause in the ongoing conflict. The deal, mediated by Qatar, represents the first lull in the violence that began on October 7 and has claimed the lives of thousands of people.
As part of the initial stage of the agreement, Hamas will release 50 Israeli women and children held in Gaza, while Israel has agreed to release around 150 Palestinian prisoners, mostly women and children. The pause in fighting will be extended by one day for every additional 10 hostages released by Hamas, according to a statement from the Israeli prime minister’s office.
While a senior US official stated that the deal would take effect 24 hours after its announcement, neither Israel nor Hamas provided specific timing in their statements. Both Israel and the US designate Hamas as a terrorist organization.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government emphasized that the temporary pause does not mean an end to the war. The Israeli statement highlighted that the government, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), and the security services will continue the fight until all hostages are returned, Hamas is eliminated, and there is no longer a threat to Israel from Gaza.
Hamas acknowledged the difficult and complex negotiations that led to the agreement and announced the humanitarian truce for the four-day period. The deal includes provisions for publicizing the names of Palestinian prisoners set to be released, allowing Israelis to appeal to the courts against their release. Three American citizens held in Gaza are also expected to be freed as part of the agreement.
The announcement of the deal had minimal impact on financial markets. Neither gold nor crude oil, the two commodities most affected by the conflict’s initial outbreak, displayed surprise or significant price fluctuations. Gold remained just below $2,000 an ounce, and Brent crude stayed steady around $82 a barrel, indicating that the news of the hostage and prisoner-exchange agreement was already anticipated by traders.
Qatar will establish an operations room to oversee the implementation of the agreement, coordinating with the Israelis, Hamas, the Red Cross, and US officials. The agreement comes amid mounting international pressure on Israel to end its retaliatory offensive in Gaza, which has lasted over six weeks and resulted in a growing humanitarian crisis.
According to the Hamas government’s media office, more than 14,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the start of the conflict, and 6,800 people are missing or trapped under rubble. Israel has reported that the initial Hamas attacks claimed over 1,200 lives, with about 240 individuals initially taken hostage.
As negotiations progress, Israeli forces continue to engage in fierce battles with Hamas in the northern Gaza Strip. The prime target of Israel’s ground offensive is Gaza City, described by the military as Hamas’s center of gravity. Israeli forces have taken control of significant portions of Al Shifa hospital, presenting evidence that Hamas exploited the facility by constructing tunnels and a command center beneath it.
During the temporary pause in fighting, the main hospital in northern Gaza will be evacuated, and patients, wounded individuals, and medical staff will be relocated to hospitals in the southern Strip. Israeli tanks had earlier been deployed near the hospital, resulting in the deaths of 12 Palestinians from shelling, according to the Gaza health ministry.
With the agreement set to come into effect, it remains clear that both Israel and Hamas remain resolute in their objectives. Prime Minister Netanyahu emphasized at a recent cabinet meeting that the government would continue the war until all goals were achieved, including the elimination of Hamas, the return of all hostages, and the assurance that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel.
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