Israel and Hamas have agreed to a four-day ceasefire in Gaza, along with the release of dozens of hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. The truce is set to take effect at 10 a.m. local time on Thursday. Egypt played a key role in mediating the ceasefire, which will also allow for the entry of more humanitarian aid into Gaza. The agreement marks the biggest diplomatic breakthrough since Hamas’ attack into southern Israel on October 7, which sparked a devastating war. Qatar, which has been mediating with Hamas, announced the deal without specifying when it would go into effect. The release of hostages will be done in stages, with women and children being released first. The truce will be extended for an extra day for every 10 hostages released by Hamas. Israel’s Justice Ministry has published a list of 300 prisoners eligible for release, mainly teenagers detained for minor offenses. The Israeli military has detained over 1,850 Palestinians in the West Bank since the war began, mostly suspected Hamas members. The ceasefire and release of hostages have been welcomed by US President Joe Biden and Pope Francis. The full extent of the devastation caused by the war is still being assessed, and pressure may grow on Israel to end the conflict without achieving its goal of crushing Hamas.
