Israel agrees to hostage deal with Hamas
By THECONSCIENCEng
Israel’s cabinet has approved a deal for the release of hostages seized by Hamas in exchange for a pause in fighting in Gaza. The truce is slated to begin on Thursday morning, an Israeli official told CNN.
The agreement would see the release of at least 50 hostages – women and children – in exchange for a four-day truce in Israel’s air and ground campaign, according to a government statement. And it held out the potential for an extension, saying that an extra day would be added for each additional 10 hostages available for release.
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150 Palestinian prisoners will be released from Israeli jails as part of the agreement, Hamas said in a statement. Israel has also released a list of 300 Palestinian prisoners who could ultimately be part of a wider agreement to release hostages held in Gaza.
Meanwhile, almost 1.7 million people have been displaced in Gaza since October 7, a UN agency said. And up to 50% of the buildings in northern Gaza and Gaza governorates have been damaged, according to an analysis of radar satellite data.
