Nations around the globe welcomed on Wednesday the announcement that Israel and Hamas reached a deal to free hostages and pause ferocious fighting and bombardment in Gaza.
Some 240 people, ranging from infants to the elderly, were taken captive during the Hamas-led October 7 attack that killed about 1,200 in Israel, mostly civilians, according to Israeli authorities, AFP reports.
Israel retaliated with a bombing campaign and ground offensive in Gaza, which, according to the Hamas government in the territory, has killed 14,100 people, mainly civilians including thousands of children.
The two parties said Wednesday they had agreed on a four-day truce in the Gaza war during which the Palestinian militants would free at least 50 of the hostages taken on October 7.
In turn, Israel would release at least 150 Palestinian prisoners and allow more humanitarian aid into the coastal territory after more than six weeks of bombardment, heavy fighting and a crippling siege.
The hostages to be freed are women and children, and the Palestinian prisoners are women and detainees aged 18 and younger. The process could begin Thursday at 10:00 am (0800 GMT), according to regional media reports.
AFP reports that the deal, negotiated with Qatar, the United States and Egypt, is the first major breakthrough in Gaza’s bloodiest-ever war that has killed thousands and left much of the territory in ruins.
Although it promises a truce that could be extended if more captives are freed, Israel has vowed to stick to its war aim of destroying Hamas and rescuing all 240 hostages held in the war zone.
“We are very happy that a partial release is pending,” Israel’s Hostages and Missing Families Forum group said in a statement.
“As of now, we don’t know exactly who will be released when.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose cabinet approved the truce after a marathon overnight session, told his ministers it was a “difficult decision but it’s a right decision”.
The cabinet’s sign-off was one of the last hurdles after what one US official described as five “extremely excruciating” weeks of talks.
Hamas welcomed the “humanitarian truce” and an official of the Islamist group told AFP that “the resistance is committed to the truce as long as the occupation honours it”.
US President Joe Biden thanked the leaders of Qatar and Egypt for their “critical leadership” in reaching the deal.
“I am extraordinarily gratified that some of these brave souls will be reunited with their families once this deal is fully implemented,” Biden said, referring to the hostages.
British Foreign Secretary David Cameron called the deal “a crucial step towards providing relief to the families of the hostages and addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.”
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said the “breakthrough” agreement “must be used to bring vital aid to people in Gaza.”
Beijing hoped “that it will help ease the plight of the humanitarian crisis, de-escalate the conflict and ease tensions”, said foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning.
The Kremlin called the deal “the first good news from Gaza in a very long time,” noting “it is only on the basis of these kinds of pauses that some outlines of future attempts at a sustainable settlement can be built.”
Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi welcomed the deal and noted “the continuation of the Egyptian efforts to reach final and sustainable solutions to guarantee the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.”
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the deal was “an important step in the right direction, but much more needs to be done,” adding that the UN would provide support for the implementation of the agreement.
