Israel, Hamas agree to ceasefire deal that also sees captives exchanged
CBC
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Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas agreed to a ceasefire early Wednesday that would see a pause in fighting in Gaza and the release of some captives on both sides, marking the first agreement of its kind since the war began more than six weeks ago.
The deal calls for a four-day ceasefire, during which Israel will halt its military offensive in Gaza while Hamas frees "at least" 50 of the roughly 240 hostages it and other militants are holding, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said. The first hostages to be released will be women and children.
"The government of Israel is committed to bringing all of the hostages home. Tonight, the government approved the outline for the first stage of achieving this goal," the office said in a statement.
Hamas said the 50 hostages would be released in exchange for 150 Palestinian women and children who are held in Israeli jails. The truce deal will also allow hundreds of trucks of humanitarian, medical and fuel aid to enter Gaza, the Palestinian group said in a statement.
Israel had committed not to attack or arrest anyone in all parts of Gaza during the truce period, it added.
The Qatar government, which brokered the deal along with the U.S., said 50 civilian women and children hostages would be released from Gaza in exchange for the release "of a number of Palestinian women and children held in Israeli prisons."
The starting time of the truce would be announced within the next 24 hours, it said in a statement.
Israeli media, including Channel 12 news, said the first release of hostages was expected Thursday.
Implementing the deal must wait for 24 hours to give Israeli citizens the chance to ask the Supreme Court to block the release of Palestinian prisoners, reports said.
Ahead of the vote, which came after a six-hour meeting stretching into the early morning, Netanyahu said Israel would resume its offensive against Hamas after the ceasefire expires, and sought to assure government ministers that the break was only tactical. Top security officials also attended the meeting.
"We are at war, and we will continue the war," he said. "We will continue until we achieve all our goals."
Despite Netanyahu's tough words, the government statement said the truce would be extended an extra day for every additional 10 hostages released by Hamas.
A longer-term lull could lead to pressure, both international and domestic, for Israel to end its war without achieving its goal of destroying Hamas's military capabilities.