Ceasefire Agreement Reached 46 Days After Israel-Palestine War "50 Hostages Released" (Comprehensive)

Relief Supplies and Fuel Trucks Allowed to Enter Entire Gaza Area
Unclear Whether 150 Palestinian Prisoners Will Be Released

Israeli soldiers are seen on the 20th (local time) loading Palestinian men with their eyes covered onto military trucks in the Gaza Strip. [Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

Benjamin Netanyahu's Israeli government has agreed to a four-day temporary ceasefire on the condition of receiving back 50 hostages held by the Palestinian armed group Hamas.

According to The Times of Israel and others on the 22nd (local time), the Israeli government passed a hostage release and temporary ceasefire plan mediated by Qatar through a cabinet meeting on the same day. This comes 46 days after the war broke out following Hamas's surprise attack on the 7th of last month.

The Israeli government stated that Hamas will release 50 children and women in stages during the four-day ceasefire period, freeing 12 to 13 people per day, and that the ceasefire period will be extended by one day for every additional 10 hostages released. Additionally, the negotiation plan includes allowing hundreds of fuel trucks and relief supplies to enter the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli government said in a statement, "We are committed to bringing all hostages back to our country. The approval of this negotiation plan is the first step toward achieving this goal."

Despite opposition from some far-right party ministers, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, the plan reportedly passed smoothly. The exact start time of the ceasefire has not been disclosed, but there is speculation that hostilities could cease as early as the 23rd.

The Israeli government reiterated its position that after exchanging hostages during the temporary ceasefire, fighting will resume. In his opening remarks at the cabinet meeting that day, Prime Minister Netanyahu said, "We will not stop the war even after the ceasefire," drawing a clear line against "absurd rumors that we will completely stop the war after the ceasefire to retrieve the hostages."

He continued, "We will eliminate Hamas, ensure that all hostages and missing persons return, and guarantee that there will be no further threats to Israel from the Gaza Strip," emphasizing once again that the war will continue until Hamas is removed.

According to the Associated Press, the total number of hostages held by Hamas is around 240. Israel and the United States have been negotiating with Hamas through Qatar's mediation to secure their release. Earlier foreign reports suggested that the Israeli government would release 150 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Hamas hostages, but this was not mentioned in the current statement.

The U.S. government has not disclosed how many Americans are among the 50 hostages included in this release. The day before, U.S. President Joe Biden responded to a question about whether an agreement on hostage release between Israel and Hamas was imminent by saying, "I believe so." John Kirby, White House National Security Council (NSC) Coordinator for Strategic Communications, also said in a briefing that day, "We believe we are getting closer and closer to an agreement (on hostage release)," adding, "We are closer than ever before. That is a good thing."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.