ISRAEL AND HAMAS AGREE TO FOUR-DAY CEASEFIRE

Israel’s cabinet on Wednesday approved a ceasefire agreement with the Hamas militant group, aiming to temporarily halt the ongoing devastating conflict.

- 

Israel and Hamas have agreed to a four-day halt in their devastating war in exchange for the release of dozens of hostages taken captive by militants on 7 October, when Israeli communities were overrun and some 240 people abducted.

The agreement will bring the first respite to war-weary Palestinians in Gaza, where more than 11,000 people, many women and children, have been killed, according to health authorities. It could also offer a glimmer of hope to the agonised families of those abducted weeks ago.

Under the deal, Hamas is to free 50 of the roughly 240 hostages it is holding in the Gaza Strip over a four-day period, the Israeli government said Wednesday. It said it would extend the lull by an additional day for every 10 hostages released.

The government said the first hostages to be released would be women and children.

Ahead of Wednesday morning’s Cabinet vote, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would resume its offensive against Hamas after the cease-fire expires.

It was not immediately clear when the truce would go into effect.