Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday that some Israeli hostages will begin to be released under a ceasefire agreement that will take effect at 8:30 a.m. local time in the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli cabinet approved a three-phase deal with Hamas on Saturday, bringing the deal into effect. The first phase, which will begin tomorrow, will see a six-week, two-week ceasefire, with Hamas releasing 33 Israeli hostages within 42 days. Israel will also release nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. The Israelis will begin to be released on Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said on Saturday.
The first phase of the deal will see Israeli forces withdraw from the Gaza Strip, allowing Palestinians who fled their homes to return to their homes. The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday that it would allow 600 truckloads of food and aid to reach Palestinian civilians in Gaza.
Families are anxiously awaiting the release of 98 of the 250 hostages taken by Hamas militants in an attack on Israeli territory on October 7, 2023. The ceasefire agreement marks the beginning of an end to the 15-month-long war between Israel and Hamas.
