- Israel, Hamas agree to four-day truce; 50 hostages, scores of Palestinian prisoners to be freed
- Ceasefire expected to begin Thursday
- Egypt and the US joint mediators in the deal
The starting time of the pause will be announced within the next 24 hours and last for four days, subject to extension.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that the agreement includes the release of 50 civilian women and children hostages currently held in the Gaza Strip in exchange for the release of a number of Palestinian women and children detained in Israeli prisons; the number of those released will be increased in later stages of implementing the agreement.
The humanitarian pause will also allow the entry of a larger number of humanitarian convoys and relief aid, including fuel designated for humanitarian needs, the statement added.
"Qatar affirms its commitment to ongoing diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions, stop the bloodshed, and protect civilians. In this regard, Qatar appreciates the efforts of the Arab Republic of Egypt and the United States of America in reaching this agreement," the statement added.
Reuters adds: The first truce in a brutal, near seven-week-old war, reached after mediation by Qatar, was hailed around the world.
Israel said the ceasefire could be extended further if more hostages were freed.
Hamas and allied groups captured around 240 hostages from southern Israeli towns on Oct. 7. The truce is expected to begin Thursday morning.
A statement by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office on Tuesday night said 50 women and children would be released over four days at a rate of at least 10 daily. Beyond that, the truce could be extended day by day as long as an additional 10 hostages were freed per day.
Israel's justice ministry published a list of 300 names of Palestinian prisoners who could be freed.
Hamas said the initial 50 hostages would be released in exchange for 150 Palestinian women and children imprisoned in Israel. Hundreds of trucks of humanitarian, medical and fuel supplies would enter Gaza, while Israel would halt all air sorties over southern Gaza and maintain a daily six-hour daytime no-fly window in the north.
Since October 7, over 14,000 Gazans have been killed, around 40% of them children.
Qatar's chief negotiator in ceasefire talks, Minister of State at the Foreign Ministry Mohamed al-Khulaifi, told Reuters the truce meant there would be "no attack whatsoever. No military movements, no expansion, nothing".
Qatar hopes the deal "will be a seed to a bigger agreement and a permanent cease of fire...That's our intention," he said.
Pending the start of the truce there was no let-up in fighting.
"Only this morning, from the Qadoura family in Jabalia, 52 people have been wiped out completely, killed," a Palestinian official said.
An Egyptian source said mediators sought a start time of 10 am on Thursday for the truce, though this was still awaiting confirmation from the Israelis, with Hamas seeking a few hours from the start to begin freeing hostages.
US President Joe Biden was among international leaders who welcomed the deal. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud said the agreed expansion of access for humanitarian aid should become permanent.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the agreement as "an important step in the right direction, but much more needs to be done to end the suffering".