The terms of the deal call for a four-day ceasefire in Gaza, during which the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) will halt all its military operations in the Strip, including all ground and some air operations. In exchange, Hamas will free "at least" 50 of the roughly 240 hostages it and other Palestinian groups are currently holding in Gaza. All of these 50 hostages will be women and children – 30 children, 12 women and eight mothers.
For every 10 hostages Hamas releases into Israeli custody, the ceasefire will be extended by at least one more day, which could see the lull in the fighting last for up to nine days. Israeli media even optimistically reported that Hamas could potentially locate some 30 more Israeli women and children beyond the initial 50 who could be released, allowing the ceasefire to be extended to 12 days.
During this ceasefire, Israel will also be allowing around 300 more aid trucks per day to enter Gaza from Egypt through the Rafah Border Crossing. More fuel will also be allowed to enter Gaza during this time.
But the Israeli government has made it clear that this ceasefire is only temporary. "The Israeli government, the IDF and the security forces will continue the war to return all the abductees, complete the elimination of Hamas and ensure that Gaza does not renew any threat to the State of Israel," said the Israeli war cabinet in a statement.
"We are at war, and we will continue the war," said Netanyahu. "We will continue until we achieve all our goals."
Fortunately for Gazans, this long-term lull in the fighting could lead to additional pressure, both international and domestic, for Israel to agree to a permanent ceasefire without having achieved its goal of destroying Hamas' military capabilities.
Israel to free hundreds of illegally detained Palestinians
In exchange for the freeing of the 50 hostages, the Israeli government has also agreed to free at least three times the number of Palestinians illegally imprisoned under Israeli "administrative detention," which rights groups have pointed out is practically no different to Hamas' kidnapping and hostage-taking operation on Oct. 7. (Related: TIMELINE: 75 Years of Israel's human rights abuses against Palestinians.)
While the Israeli government has refused to provide a specific number of Palestinians to be freed, Israeli media outlets have pegged the number at 150 women and children.
Meanwhile, a minister for the Palestinian National Authority told Arab media that 350 Palestinian minors and at least 82 Palestinian women illegally jailed by Israel would be free to return to their homes in East Jerusalem and the West Bank.
Before Oct. 7, Israel was holding approximately 5,200 Palestinian political prisoners in its jail, including 170 children and 1,264 "administrative detainees" who were being held unlawfully without trial or charge. Since then, the number of Palestinians illegally detained by Israel has exploded.
Watch this short video from "Southfront Press" detailing the latest gains and losses by the IDF in its assault on Gaza City right before the temporary ceasefire.
This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.
More related stories:
NEW POLL: 70% of Americans support a CEASEFIRE in Gaza.
Israel agrees to 4-hour daily pauses in Gaza fighting to allow civilians to flee.
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