Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip in exchange for the Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners and to permit additional aid to enter the enclave.
The agreement stipulates a four-day truce in which, in return for 150 Palestinians detained in Israeli prisons, the militant group will release 50 hostages, including women and children under the age of 19.
According to the agreement, the ceasefire lasting four days has been labeled “a humanitarian pause.” In a statement, Israel announced that it would prolong the pause by one day for every ten hostages subsequently released.
Hamas said Israel had agreed to stop air traffic over the north of Gaza from 10 a.m. (0800 GMT) to 4 p.m. (1400 GMT) each day of the truce and over the south for the entire period. People are permitted to move freely along Salah al-Din Street, the primary thoroughfare through which a significant number of Palestinians have fled to the northern region of Gaza, according to Hamas.
Mohammed Al-Khulaifi, the Foreign Ministry’s Minister of State and chief negotiator for Qatar during ceasefire talks, stated that “no attack whatsoever” would occur in accordance with the agreement, nothing in the way of military expansion or movement.
Early on Wednesday, the Qatari negotiator said that they would disclose the commencement time of the ceasefire within twenty-four hours.
Israel’s national security adviser stated on Wednesday evening that the release of hostages captured during the brief truce with Hamas militants will not occur before Friday.