The Israeli authorities and the Palestinian Hamas movement are ready to make a deal – the parties to the conflict have agreed on a temporary ceasefire in exchange for the release of the hostages by the militants, the Times of Israel and Haaretz write.
Israel also agreed to the return of Palestinian prisoners.
According to media reports, the Israeli government has already approved the deal with Hamas, approving a plan for the first stage of achieving this goal, which provides for the release of at least 50 abducted women and children within four days.
The Israeli authorities also do not rule out that the truce could be extended – by a day for every ten additional releases. It is planned to return 30 children, eight mothers and 12 more women to Israel, media note.
The publications add that almost all members of the cabinet, the IDF, Shin Bet counterintelligence and Mossad intelligence support the deal. According to Axios, this is the biggest diplomatic breakthrough and the first major pause in fighting since the conflict began to escalate.
RBC notes that the first reports about the preparation of an agreement on the exchange of hostages appeared on November 15. It was a question of a three-day ceasefire in exchange for 50 women and children hostages. At the same time, Hamas demanded the release of all Palestinians from Israeli prisons, but Israel did not agree to this.
Let us recall that the escalation of the conflict between Israel and Hamas began on October 7 after rocket attacks by the radical Palestinian movement on Israeli territory and the capture of a number of settlements bordering the Gaza Strip. It was reported that more than 1,400 Israelis were killed, most of them civilians. Hamas militants also took a large number of hostages. In response, the Israeli authorities blockaded the Gaza Strip and continue bombing the enclave. According to Gaza’s health ministry, more than 11,000 people have been killed in the strip since Israeli bombing began. According to WHO, 40% of the dead were children. Currently, the Gaza Strip is blocked – there is no electricity, no Internet, and the supply of heat and water has been interrupted.
Source: Rosbalt
Mario Twitchell is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his insightful and thought-provoking writing on a wide range of topics including general and opinion. He currently works as a writer at 247 news agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
