The Times of Israel is liveblogging Wednesday’s events as they happen.
Hamas: ‘Humanitarian truce’ meant ‘to serve our people and enhance their steadfastness’
Hamas says it welcomes a “humanitarian truce” approved by Israel that provides for the freeing of hostages held by the terror group in Gaza in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners.
“The provisions of this agreement were formulated according to the vision of the resistance and its determinants that aim to serve our people and enhance their steadfastness in the face of aggression,” a Hamas statement says.
Hamas says the agreement will lead to an increase of fuel and humanitarian aid deliveries into Gaza, along with the release of 50 Israeli women and children in exchange for a four-day ceasefire — the only part of the deal to be confirmed by Israel.
Sources from Hamas and Islamic Jihad, another terror group, had earlier told AFP the truce would include a complete ceasefire on the ground and a pause in Israeli air operations over southern Gaza.
After approving deal, government says ‘committed to bringing all the abductees home’
The Prime Minister’s Office issues a formal statement confirming the cabinet’s decision early this morning to approve the first hostage deal of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
“The Israeli government is committed to bringing all the abductees home. Tonight, the government approved the outline for the first stage of achieving this goal, under which at least 50 abductees – women and children – will be released over a span of four days, during which there will be a lull in the fighting,” the statement says.
“The release of every ten additional abductees will result in an additional day of respite,” it adds.
“The Israeli government, the IDF and the security forces will continue the war to return all the abductees, complete the elimination of Hamas and ensure that Gaza does not renew any threat to the State of Israel.”
The statement does not offer details regarding any of the other concessions Israel is believed to have made, including the release of Palestinian prisoners and the entry of additional fuel and humanitarian aid into Gaza.