Gaza awaits Israel-Hamas truce deal: What does it mean and does it herald end of war?
truce involves a four-day cease-fire in war-hit Gaza and phased release of at least 50 hostages (by Hamas) in return for 150 Palestinian prisoner (held in Israel). Israel said the truce could last beyond the initial four days as long as the militants free at least 10 hostages per day. Qatar said Israel would also allow more fuel and humanitarian aid into Gaza, but did not provide details.
Hamas said hundreds of trucks carrying humanitarian aid and fuel are to be allowed to enter Gaza every day as part of the deal. "Supplies would also reach northern Gaza, the focus of Israel's ground offensive, for the first time," Hamas said. However, Israeli Channel 12 TV reported that as part of the deal, Israel will allow a “significant" amount of fuel and humanitarian supplies into Gaza, but did not specify how much.
Israel, Hamas and Qatar had released different details of the agreement earlier. However, those details do not appear to contradict one another, news agency Associated Press had reported. However, in a major blow to the families expecting a brief relief from the bombardment and atrocities, the deal was delayed by another day on Thursday.
Hamas and other Palestinian gunmen seized around 240 hostages during unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7. In retaliation, Israeli launched an relentless airstrikes and a ground offensive in Hamas-run Gaza. More than 14,000 people, thousands of them children, have been killed in Israeli strikes.
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