Qatar confirmed on Wednesday that Israel and Hamas had reached an agreement for a four-day humanitarian suspension in exchange for the release of 50 hostages in Gaza.
“The start time of the suspension will be announced in the next 24 hours and, if extended, will last for four days,” Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
“The agreement includes the release of 50 civilian women and children currently held hostage in the Gaza Strip in exchange for the release of a number of Palestinian women and children held in Israeli prisons. “The number of people released will increase further in the later stages of implementation of the agreement,” he added.
Qatar has been in intense behind-the-scenes negotiations for weeks to free some of the 240 hostages held in Gaza in exchange for a temporary ceasefire and access to humanitarian aid.
On October 7, Hamas militants stormed across Gaza’s militarized border, carrying out the deadliest attack in Israel’s history.
Israel announced that the attack killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took about 240 hostages, including the elderly and children.
In response, Israel launched relentless bombing and ground attacks on the Hamas-held Gaza Strip, which the Hamas government said killed more than 14,100 people, including thousands of children.
Qatar said the deal, which was also signed with Egypt, the United States, Hamas and Israel, includes “the entry of more humanitarian convoys and relief aid, including fuel, to meet humanitarian needs.”
Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani told “We hope that a possible agreement can be established,” he wrote. an inclusive and fair peace process; ”
– “Ceasefire extension possible” –
Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majid al-Ansari told AFP that the release of 50 hostages held by Hamas will be postponed during the four-day ceasefire period.
“The ceasefire will begin and for the next four days more hostages will come out every day…and the number will reach 50 by the fourth day,” he said.
Following the initial release of 50 women and child hostages by Hamas, further releases were expected to occur to extend the initial four-day ceasefire.
“If the Palestinians can commit to additional numbers by then, the ceasefire can be extended,” Ansari said.
“It will take time to evacuate all the civilians within these conditions and … it will also take time to see how much remains,” he said.
He said the suspension of hostilities would not take effect immediately and “preparations on the ground will take time.”
The spokesman, who is also a key adviser to Qatar’s prime minister, said Israeli reconnaissance in Gaza would be suspended during the hostage transfer.
He said “no military prisoners will be among those released” under the deal, suggesting this is an area where trust needs to be built if negotiations are to move forward.
Source: guardian.ng