Israel Approves Deal With Hamas For Release Of 50 Hostages

Israel's cabinet voted early on Wednesday to approve an agreement aimed at freeing approximately 50 hostages taken into Gaza during its attack on October 7. This deal, reported by The Times of Israel, exchanged the hostages' release for a multi-day ceasefire.

Although specifics of the agreement weren't immediately disclosed, an Israeli government official hinted to reporters on Tuesday that the deal could secure the release of roughly 50 Israelis, predominantly women and children, in batches of 12-13 individuals per day.

In a significant shift during the conflict with Hamas, Israel reluctantly accepted a four-day ceasefire under mounting pressure from the global community.

Reports of the deal on securing the hostages in exchange for a ceasefire surfaced on Tuesday when Hamas and Israel said they were "close" to reaching an agreement. Qatar played a prominent role in brokering the talks on the hostages' deal.

Israel-Hamas ceasefire: What we know

• This will be the first pause in the ongoing bombardment. Humanitarian aid will also get access into Gaza owing to this halt.In the four-day halt, 50 women and children would be freed by the Hamas.
• Though it was not clear when the truce would go into effect, the hostages could be freed starting on Thursday.
• The Israeli government said it would extend the lull by an additional day for every 10 hostages released.
• In the statement released by Hamas in which it welcomed the humanitarian truce, it said 150 Palestinians would be released from Israeli jails as part of the deal.

Both sides confirmed the agreement following an all-night meeting. Netanyahu said it was a difficult decision but the right one. Netanyahu faced resistance from his war cabinet as some believed that the agreement would give "too much" to Hamas.

Who are the hostages?
About 240 people were taken hostage by the Hamas after they attacked Israel on October 7. The hostages were mainly people who attended the music festival that Hamas targetted. In addition to Israeli citizens, more than half the hostages held foreign and dual citizenship from some 40 countries including the U.S., Thailand, Britain, France, Argentina, Germany, Chile, Spain and Portugal, Israel's government has said.

Hamas so far released four captives: US citizens Judith Raanan, 59, and her daughter, Natalie Raanan, 17, on October 20, citing "humanitarian reasons," and Israeli women Nurit Cooper, 79, and Yocheved Lifshitz, 85, on October 23.