Israel and Hamas reached a four-day ceasefire agreement in Gaza on Wednesday . The purpose is to facilitate the entry of aid and secure the release of at least 50 hostages held by militants in the Palestinian enclave. In exchange, Israel will release a minimum of 150 Palestinians currently imprisoned.
This marks the first truce in the nearly seven-week-long conflict, offering a glimmer of hope for progress and relief for civilians in the besieged Gaza Strip. Israel has expressed the possibility of extending the ceasefire if additional hostages are freed, with sources suggesting up to 100 hostages could be released by the end of the month.
The ceasefire, expected to commence on Thursday morning, had not officially announced its start time as of Wednesday afternoon. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office stated that 50 women and children would be released over four days, at a rate of at least 10 per day. The truce’s extension depends on the daily release of an additional 10 hostages.
Israel’s justice ministry published a list of 300 Palestinian prisoners eligible for release. The government emphasized its commitment to bringing all hostages home, approving the proposed deal as the first step toward that goal.
Hamas confirmed that the initial release of 50 hostages is in exchange for 150 Palestinian women and children imprisoned in Israel. The agreement includes the entry of hundreds of trucks carrying humanitarian, medical, and fuel supplies into Gaza. In return, Israel will cease all air sorties over southern Gaza and observe a daily six-hour daytime no-fly window in the north, as outlined by the ruling Islamists in the enclave.
The conflict, which began with the capture of around 240 hostages by Hamas and allied groups on October 7, has resulted in significant casualties and devastation in Gaza. The toll stands at 1,200 people killed, predominantly civilians, according to Israeli tallies. Since then, over 14,000 Gazans have lost their lives, with around 40% of them being children, according to medical officials in the territory.
