Israel and Hamas Confirm Temporary Ceasefire in Breakthrough Hostage Deal

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Facts

  • After the Israeli war cabinet voted in favor of a Qatari-mediated hostage deal with Hamas early on Wednesday, a four-day ceasefire is expected to be implemented Thursday. The deal reportedly includes the exchange of 50 Israeli and duel-national hostages — women and children — held in Gaza for 150 women and children prisoners in Israeli jails, as well as a substantial increase of humanitarian aid into the besieged strip.1
  • A reportedly 'larger number' of humanitarian convoys and relief aid, including fuel designated for humanitarian needs, will enter the strip when the ceasefire takes effect, with Qatar's official statement saying that the country is committed 'to ongoing diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions, stop the bloodshed, and protect civilians.' It added that the deal is 'subject to extension.'2
  • Israel's statement said that it was 'obligated to return home all of the hostages,' adding that one additional day of 'pause' would be added for every 10 hostages released. Hamas in its statement said that Israel would allow those still fleeing north Gaza free movement and pause arrests anywhere in the strip; it also said that Israel would stop air traffic in the south for four days and in the north for six hours a day.2
  • Though the ceasefire has been agreed upon, it's yet to be implemented and fighting is still ongoing in the strip. The Israeli military said on Wednesday that it entered Gaza City’s Tel al-Hawa neighborhood — capturing a Hamas outpost and the offices of its intelligence division, adding that Israeli forces killed several Hamas fighters and found a drone manufacturing workshop, mortars, and other weapons.3
  • Israeli forces also called for the Indonesian Hospital and Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahiya to be evacuated, saying that militants were operating there while Gaza health officials said the hospitals were besieged. Wafa, a Palestinian news agency, said that 81 people were killed on Wednesday in the center of the strip, with another 60 believed to be dead from Israeli bombing in and around the Jabaliya refugee camp in the north.4
  • On Monday, Gaza's health ministry said that over 14K people in the Gaza Strip have reportedly been killed, over two-thirds of which were women and children; the ministry also reported 33K wounded. The official Israeli death toll, meanwhile, stands at 1.2K people.5

Sources: 1BBC News, 2Al Jazeera, 3The Jerusalem Post, 4The Guardian and 5Haaretz.

Narratives

  • Pro-Israel narrative, as provided by The Jerusalem Post. While freeing hostages is of the utmost importance, Israel must not succumb to unfair international pressure. Hamas has a history of forcing uneven deals, and the Israeli war cabinet made the right decision by weighing its options before accepting this temporary pause. It should remain clear, however, that Israel's ultimate goal is to eliminate Hamas from the Gaza Strip, and Tel Aviv will continue to work toward this end.
  • Pro-Palestine narrative, as provided by Middle East Eye. Though the Israel Defense Forces are making steady progress on the ground, a tactical assault on Hamas to free the captives could lead to the deaths of many more. Israel has made a wise choice to bring its citizens home immediately through this temporary ceasefire. This will also see much-needed aid reach Gaza, where an utter humanitarian cataclysm is unfolding.

Predictions