Israeli cabinet approves ceasefire with Hamas that includes release of hostages

globalnews.ca:

Israel’s Cabinet on Wednesday approved a temporary cease-fire with the Hamas militant group that is expected to bring the first halt in fighting in a devastating six-week conflict and win freedom for dozens of hostages held captive in the Gaza Strip.The deal calls for a four-day cease-fire, during which Israel will halt its military offensive in Gaza while Hamas frees “at least” 50 of the roughly 240 hostages it and other militants are holding, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said. The first hostages to be released are women and children.“The government of Israel is committed to bringing all of the hostages home.

Tonight, the government approved the outline for the first stage of achieving this goal,” the office said in a statement.Media reports ahead of the vote said Israel would free some 150 Palestinian prisoners as part of the deal, but the Israeli statement made no mention of a prisoner release. It was not clear when the truce, brokered by the U.S.

and Qatar, would go into effect.Ahead of the early morning vote, Netanyahu said the offensive against Hamas would resume after the truce expires.“We are at war, and we will continue the war,” he said. “We will continue until we achieve all our goals.”Despite his tough words, the government statement said the truce would be extended an extra day for every additional 10 hostages released by Hamas.A longer-term lull could lead to pressure, both international and domestic, for Israel to end its offensive without achieving its goal of destroying Hamas’ military capabilities.The conflict erupted on Oct.

7 when several thousand Hamas militants burst across the border into Israel, killing at least 1,200 people and taking hundreds hostage. Most of the dead were