DOHA: Qatar, the mediator in the Gaza truce talks, has confirmed that a humanitarian pause has been agreed in Gaza, between Hamas and Israel.
A statement posted by Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs provided additional detail including that, the starting time of the pause will be announced within the next 24 hours and the pause will last for four days, subject to extension and 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 Israeli cabinet approved a deal for the release of 50 hostages held by Hamas and temporary ‘ceasefire’ on the 46th day of the war on Gaza that has killed over 1,400 Palestinians, mostly children, and over 1,200 Israelis.
Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden has welcomed the deal “to secure the release of hostages taken by Hamas”.
“I’m gratified that these brave souls, who have endured an unspeakable ordeal, will be reunited with their families once this deal is fully implemented,” Biden posted on his X account.
He also thanked the Qatari and Egyptian leadership for “their critical partnership” in reaching this deal.
“Today’s deal will bring home more American hostages. As President, I have no higher priority than ensuring the safety of Americans held hostage around the world. And I will not stop until they are all released,” he added.
President Joe Biden’s administration hopes that a truce in Gaza will lead to a “full pause” in fighting along the Israel-Lebanon border, a senior US official said late Tuesday.
“We also hope that this (agreed four-day truce between Israel and Hamas) will lead to a full pause in some of the hostilities in the north, on the Lebanese border,” the US official said on condition of anonymity.
Rep. Rashida Tlaib, the only Palestinian-American lawmaker in Congress, said the pause “is not enough.”
“We must move with urgency to save as many lives as possible and achieve a permanent ceasefire agreement. Over 14,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since this violence began, including thousands of children, and 1.7 million Palestinians have been displaced from their homes,” she said.
“Further displacement of Palestinians and forced annexation of their land will only perpetuate this conflict. Expanding the illegal occupation will never lead to a just and lasting peace. We must address the root causes of this conflict,” Tlaib continued.
“When this short-term agreement expires, the bombing of innocent civilians will continue. We need a permanent ceasefire that saves lives, brings all the hostages and those arbitrarily detained home, and puts an end to this horrific violence,” she added.
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