In a significant breakthrough, Israel and Hamas have agreed to a four-day cease-fire in the ongoing war in Gaza. The truce, announced by the Persian Gulf nation of Qatar, will facilitate the release of dozens of hostages held by militants and Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. It is also expected to bring a large influx of aid to the besieged territory. The deal was mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States.
The cease-fire is set to take effect on Thursday at 10 a.m. local time. As part of the agreement, 50 hostages will be freed in stages, in exchange for the release of 150 Palestinian prisoners. Both sides have agreed to prioritize the release of women and children.
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While Israel has stated that it will resume the war after the truce and continue fighting until all their goals are achieved, including the destruction of Hamas’ fighting and governing abilities and the return of all hostages, the announcement of the cease-fire has raised hopes of eventually winding down the conflict.
However, the fighting in Gaza City intensified overnight into Wednesday, indicating that both sides are attempting to gain ground before the truce takes effect. Palestinian militants continued to fire rockets at Israel throughout the day, without causing casualties.
The release of hostages will force Israel to rein in its offensive and could potentially mean an end to the war without achieving its goal of crushing Hamas. The devastation caused by the conflict has already led to international criticism of Israel, and concerns about the heavy toll on Gaza’s civilians.
The truce has been welcomed by several nations, including the United States, Britain, France, China, and Russia. Qatar’s prime minister expressed hope that the deal would eventually lead to a permanent cease-fire and serious talks on resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
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Despite the positive development, the situation remains fragile, and the resumption of hostilities cannot be ruled out. The conflict, now in its seventh week, has caused vast destruction in Gaza, fueled violence in the occupied West Bank, and raised fears of a wider conflagration in the Middle East.
