Israel, the United States, and Hamas are close to finalizing a deal aimed at facilitating the release of dozens of women and children held hostage in Gaza in exchange for a five-day pause in fighting, according to a new Washington Post report.
The Post at first wrote that a deal had been reached, but changed its tune after the White House explicitly responded, saying that they’re working on it, but no deal has yet been reached.
Under the terms of the six-page agreement, all parties involved will cease combat operations for at least five days to enable the release of an initial group of 50 or more hostages. These releases are expected to occur in smaller batches every 24 hours, although the total number of hostages to be freed remains unclear. Surveillance measures will be in place to ensure compliance with the ceasefire.
The pause in hostilities will also allow an increase in humanitarian aid, including fuel, to enter Gaza from Egypt, addressing the needs of the enclave’s 2.3 million residents.
The deal was brokered in Doha, Qatar, through weeks of indirect negotiations between Israel, the U.S., and Hamas, represented by Qatari mediators. However, Israel’s agreement to halt its offensive in Gaza was uncertain until recently.
The decision to proceed with the deal presents a challenging dilemma for Israel. There is significant domestic demand for the hostages’ return, but also a strong voice against bargaining for their release.
Brett McGurk, the White House National Security Council’s top Middle East official, is currently in the region to consolidate plans for the hostage release.
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12 Responses
Why five days for a ceasefire it should be maximum 48 hours then the IDF should continue to completely eradicate hamas terrorists the future of Israel is at steak its the only answer.
Ceasefire, get back hostages, level Gaza.
I don’t know if this is a good thing or not.
5 days for 50 hostages and gas for Gaza?? Who comes up with such a lopsided plan! Free all the hostages NOW!
This is not a glimmer of hope, it’s terrible, horrible news. After all their tough talk the Israeli government is collapsing and backing down, retreating to the same criminally foolish ideas that brought this disaster in the first place. The hostages’ lives are NOT WORTH THE PRICE. Giving Hamas time to rest and rearm, and to move themselves to safety, and giving them fuel and resources, will cost many times the lives it will purportedly save. It is against the Torah to bargain with terrorists and pay ransom for captives that is even a penny higher than what they could get at any slave market; and since there are no slave markets today, that price is zero, so it’s forbidden to pay even one penny for them let alone releasing prisoners who will certainly return to the battlefield and kill more Jews, and giving them resources that they will use for the same purpose.
Hmm… Why does Hamas want a ceasefire?
Is it because they want aid delivered to their poor fellow Gazans? I doubt it. They don’t seem to care much about them.
Is it so they can rearm and pummel Israel with greater strength?
If yes, why in the world is Israel giving in? Doesn’t public safety override safety of individuals?
If it is due to public pressure, how dare a government give up the safety of their people just to look good in the eyes of the media and society!?
Shame!
I think for a five day ceasefire — ALL the hostages should be released –if not, when or how will they be released. Hamas is desperate for a cease fire — now is the time to demand ALL the hostages to be released. Be strong.
Doesn’t sound like “a glimmer of hope” to me.
Playing right into Hamas’ hands.
The PM didn’t announce this
ALL OR NONE! No ceasefire, only surrender!
Why give our enemies time to regroup to attack us????
Dear moderator! Feel free not to post!
I think you should reconsider publishing news items regarding hostages because these are just the tools the terrorists want to exploit from Israel to get what they want. What they can’t do on the battlefield they do with psychological warfare and we shouldn’t play into their hands. They murder and then they kidnap to release the murderers and then murder more. I think each of us has to be careful about our responsibilities!
it will never work at all no matter what
This is why Hamas takes hostages. Because they know they can get things out of us. We shouldn’t negotiate with terrorists. At Entebbe, we didn’t start asking what concessions they wanted to release the hostages. We went in and b’ezras Hashem got them out.