The Israeli Cabinet has agreed to a four-day ceasefire and a deal with Hamas to secure the release of 50 hostages, including women and children, being held in Gaza since the war erupted on Oct 7. 

However, Israel prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the Cabinet meeting late at night on Nov 21 that the country will not stop the war.

In a statement, the Israeli prime minister’s Office said under the deal, the release of every additional 10 hostages will extend the pause in fighting by a day.

Today, Hamas said that 150 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails will be released as part of the deal.

The prisoners are women and children, the statement said.

Relief will be sent to Gaza

The deal also involves the entry of hundreds of trucks carrying aid relief, medical supplies and fuel to all parts of Gaza, the Hamas statement added.

According to an earlier report of the news agency, the release of the first group of hostages will take place soon.

International involvement

Qatar and the US have been involved in active mediatory talks with both Israel and Hamas for a ceasefire.

Those opposed to the truce warned the Israeli Cabinet that this partial hostage deal would derail the process of securing all those in captivity and that it would complicate the military offensive against the militant group in Gaza.

Netanyahu however dismissed the scepticism and said: “ We are at war and continue to be at war until our objectives are met including destroying Hamas and all our captives are released.”

Israeli hostage situation 

This development comes more than a week after a major breakthrough was reached on Nov 12 when the Hamas -- after refusing for days -- had relented in offering identifying information about several dozen hostages, such as their age, gender and nationalities.

The information confirmed that numerous children and toddlers had been taken captive on Oct 7.

Israeli authorities have said that there are at least 236 hostages being held in Gaza.

(Source: IANS)

-Edited for style

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