The Israeli government and Hamas agreed to a four-day cease-fire to allow the release of 50 hostages held in Gaza in exchange for the release of 150 Palestinians imprisoned in Israel, as well as the entry of humanitarian aid into the besieged territory. According to Israeli estimates, Hamas is keeping more than 200 hostages taken when its fighters stormed into Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people.
According to a statement issued by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office, 50 women and children would be released over the course of four days, during which fighting will be suspended. The halt would be prolonged by one day for every additional ten hostages released, according to the statement.
On October 7, the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel, infiltrating communities near the Gaza Strip with hundreds of militants.
Around 1,200 people were killed, and the Israeli military claims that over 200 troops and civilians, including women and children, were taken captive in Gaza.
According to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry, more than 14,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli military air and artillery assaults in response.
