The Israeli government approved a deal early on Wednesday that will see the release of some of the hostages held by Hamas, the government said in a statement. The decision came after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened his war cabinet to discuss the terms of the deal following recent progress in negotiations in Doha, Qatar.
The statement from the Government of Israel outlines an agreement where at least 50 hostages, including women and children, will be released over four days with a pause in the fighting. The release of every additional ten hostages will result in one additional day in the pause. Hamas has agreed to the deal, which includes a ceasefire from both parties.
Three American hostages are expected to be among the 50 released in the first wave. The agreement is set to be implemented 24 hours after finalization, with Hamas stating that it would begin at 10 a.m. local time on Thursday. The Israeli government
The terms involve the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian women and children held in Israeli prisons, a cessation of air traffic over specific areas in Gaza, and the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. Qatar played a key role in initiating talks, and the agreement has been endorsed by the U.S. and Egypt. Prime Minister Netanyahu thanked President Biden for his involvement in the mediation efforts. The government emphasized that security measures for Israeli forces and intelligence efforts would be maintained during the pause.