Israel and Hamas Agree To Ceasefire in Gaza for Release of 50 Hostages
Israel and Hamas have agreed a deal to release 50 hostages being held in Gaza during a four-day pause in fighting.
In that phase, Hamas will release 50 hostages from Gaza.
Israel will then release 150 Palestinian women and teenagers held in Israeli detention.
In the second phase, the pause in fighting will be extended by a day for every 10 further hostages released.
Israel will release “up to” another 150 Palestinian detainees, if “up to” another 50 hostages are released from Gaza.
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Israel has published a list of 300 Palestinians who could be released in total – most are male teenagers.
The start of the pause will be announced in the next 24 hours – if successful it will be the first break in fighting since 7 October.
Israeli officials have suggested that the hostages to be released in coming days will be selected from those held by Hamas, which will then try to locate others held by different groups or factions.
The armed wing of the Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad announced late on Tuesday the death of one of the Israeli hostages it has been holding.
Two Americans and two Israeli nationals were freed in mid-October by Hamas. The Israeli military last month rescued one of its soldiers, and last week it said it had recovered the bodies of two hostages during the offensive.
